Minnesota F-29-R(P)-23 Area F314 March 2003 MINNESOTA ...Minnesota lakes, combined winter 2002-03...

Minnesota F-29-R(P)-23 Area F314 Study 4 Job 663 March 2003

MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, DIVISION OF FISH AND WILDLIFE-- DIVISION OF FISHERIES

Completion Report

Winter Season 2002-03/Open-Water Season 2003 Creel Survey Creel Survey of 3 Northern Hennepin County, Minnesota Lakes

by

Taylor Polomis Metro West Area Fisheries Office

Funded Under Federal Aid by the Sport Fish Restoration Act, F-29-R(P)-23

Table of Contents

Page List of Tables....................................start page iii Abstract.................................................... xi Introduction/Study Area..................................... 1 Results Summaries: Combined Winter and Open-Water Seasons.. 2 Winter Season Creel Survey-- Methods........................ 5 Results and Discussion-- Survey Notes, All Lakes.......... 8 Medicine Lake.................... 8 Lake Independence................ 9 Lake Sarah....................... 10 Open-Water Season Creel Survey-- Methods.................... 11 Results and Discussion-- Survey Notes, All Lakes......... 12 Medicine Lake.................... 12 Lake Independence................ 14 Lake Sarah....................... 15 References.................................................. 17 Signature Page.............................................. 19 Figure 1 (Lake Locations)................................... 20 Tables.......................................... start page 21 Appendices: A Entire Survey Estimates, Values.. start page A1 B Strata Values by Month........... start page B1 C Strata Values by Day Type........ start page C1 D Strata Values by Angler Type..... start page D1 E Survey Schedule.................. start page E1 F Interview Form

ii

List of Tables

Table 1. Selected characteristics of the 3 northern Hennepin County, Minnesota lakes surveyed in 2002-03. Table 2. Estimates of total fishing pressure, fishing pressure density, and angler trips for 3 Hennepin County, Minnesota lakes, combined winter 2002-03 and open-water 2003 seasons. Table 3. Total harvest, release, and catch numbers by fish species/ type, 3 Hennepin County, Minnesota lakes, combined winter winter 2002-03 and open-water 2003 seasons. Table 4. Yield, in pounds and pounds per acre, 3 Hennepin County, Minnesota lakes, combined winter 2002-03 and open-water 2003 seasons. Table 5. Mean lengths (inches) and weights (lb) of harvested and released fishes, Medicine Lake, combined winter 2002- 03 and open-water 2003 seasons. Table 6. Mean lengths (inches) and weights (lb) of harvested and released fishes, Lake Independence, combined winter 2002- 03 and open-water 2003 seasons. Table 7. Mean lengths (inches) and weights (lb) of harvested and released fishes, Lake Independence, combined winter 2002- 03 and open-water 2003 seasons. Table 8. Age distributions of sampled harvested fish, Medicine Lake, combined winter 2002-03 and open-water 2003 seasons. Table 9. Age distributions of sampled harvested fish, Lake Independence, combined winter 2002-03 and open-water 2003 seasons. Table 10. Age distributions of sampled harvested fish, Lake Sarah, combined winter 2002-03 and open-water 2003 seasons. Table 11. Length-frequency distributions of harvested fish, Medicine Lake, combined winter 2002-03 and open-water 2003 seasons. Table 12. Length-frequency distributions of released fish, Medicine Lake, combined winter 2002-03 and open-water 2003 seasons. Table 13. Length-frequency distributions of harvested fish, Lake Independence, combined winter 2002-03 and open-water 2003 seasons.

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List of Tables, continued Table 14. Length-frequency distributions of released fish, Lake Independence, combined winter 2002-03 and open-water 2003 seasons. Table 15. Length-frequency distributions of harvested fish, Lake Sarah, combined winter 2002-03 and open-water 2003 seasons. Table 16. Length-frequency distributions of released fish, Lake Sarah, combined winter 2002-03 and open-water 2003 seasons. Table 17. Percentages of anglers harvesting given numbers of fish, anglers seeking specific species/types, 3 Hennepin County, Minnesota lakes, combined winter 2002-03 and open-water 2003 seasons. Table 18. Estimated percent (%) of angler parties seeking selected fishes or combinations1 based on seasonal percentages and estimated angler-hours2, 3 Hennepin County, Minnesota lakes, combined winter 2002-03 and open-water 2003 seasons. Table 19. Percentages of each gender fishing 3 Hennepin County, Minnesota lakes, combined winter 2002-03 and open-water 2003 seasons. Table 20. Age distributions of anglers fishing 3 Hennepin County, Minnesota lakes, combined winter 2002-03 and open-water 2003 seasons. Table 21. Percentages of anglers traveling different distances to fish 3 Hennepin County, Minnesota lakes, combined winter 2002-03 and open-water 2003 seasons. Table 22. Percent of angler parties using various electronic location devices while fishing, 3 Hennepin County, Minnesota lakes, combined winter 2002-03 and open-water 2003 seasons.

Table 23. Summary of strata statistics for Medicine Lake, Minnesota creel survey, winter 2002-03. Table 24. Summary of strata statistics for Lake Independence, Minnesota creel survey, winter 2002-03. Table 25. Summary of strata statistics for Lake Sarah, Minnesota creel survey, winter 2002-03. Table 26. Monthly and total fishing pressure estimates in angler-hours and fishing pressure density in angler-hours per acre, 3 Hennepin County, Minnesota lakes, winter 2002-03. Table 27. Harvest, release, and catch numbers by fish species/type, plus percentage of caught fish that were harvested, Medicine Lake, winter 2002-03.

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List of Tables, continued Table 28. Harvest, release, and catch numbers by fish species/type, plus percentage of caught fish that were harvested, Lake Independence, winter 2002-03. Table 29. Harvest, release, and catch numbers by fish species/type, plus percentage of caught fish that were harvested, Lake Sarah, winter 2002-03.

Table 30. Overall harvest, release, and catch rates, Medicine Lake, winter 2002-03. Table 31. Sought harvest, release, and catch rates, Medicine Lake, winter 2002-03. Table 32. Overall harvest, release, and catch rates, Lake Independence, winter 2002-03. Table 33. Sought harvest, release, and catch rates, Lake Independence, winter 2002-03. Table 34. Overall harvest, release, and catch rates, Lake Sarah, winter 2002-03. Table 35. Sought harvest, release, and catch rates, Lake Sarah, winter 2002-03. Table 36. Yield, in pounds and pounds per acre, and percent of total represented, Medicine Lake, winter 2002-03. Table 37. Yield, in pounds and pounds per acre, and percent of total represented, Lake Independence, winter 2002-03. Table 38. Yield, in pounds and pounds per acre, and percent of total represented, Lake Sarah, winter 2002-03. Table 39. Mean length (in inches) of fish harvested and released by anglers, Medicine Lake, Minnesota, winter 2002-03. Table 40. Mean weight (in pounds) of fish harvested and released by anglers, Medicine Lake, Minnesota, winter 2002-03. Table 41. Mean length (in inches) of fish harvested and released by anglers, Lake Independence, Minnesota, winter 2002-03. Table 42. Mean weight (in pounds) of fish harvested and released by anglers, Lake Independence, Minnesota, winter 2002-03. Table 43. Mean length (in inches) of fish harvested and released by anglers, Lake Sarah, Minnesota, winter 2002-03. Table 44. Mean weight (in pounds) of fish harvested and released by anglers, Lake Sarah, Minnesota, winter 2002-03.

v

List of Tables, continued Table 45. Length-frequency distributions of harvested fish, Medicine Lake, winter 2002-03. Table 46. Length-frequency distributions of released fish, Medicine Lake, winter 2002-03. Table 47. Length-frequency distributions of harvested and released fish, Medicine Lake, winter 2002-03. Table 48. Length-frequency distributions of harvested fish, Lake Independence, winter 2002-03. Table 49. Length-frequency distributions of released fish, Lake Independence, winter 2002-03. Table 50. Length-frequency distributions of harvested and released fish, Lake Independence, winter 2002-03. Table 51. Length-frequency distributions of harvested fish, Lake Sarah, winter 2002-03. Table 52. Length-frequency distributions of released fish, Lake Sarah, winter 2002-03. Table 53. Length-frequency distributions of harvested and released fish, Lake Sarah, winter 2002-03. Table 54. Percent of angler parties seeking specific fish species or types, 3 Hennepin County, Minnesota lakes, winter 2002-03. Table 55. Percentages of each gender fishing 3 Hennepin County, Minnesota lakes, winter 2002-03. Table 56. Age distributions of anglers fishing 3 Hennepin County, Minnesota lakes, winter 2002-03. Table 57. Percentages of anglers traveling different distances to fish 3 Hennepin County, Minnesota lakes, winter 2002-03. Table 58. Percent of angler parties using various electronic location devices while fishing, 3 Hennepin County, Minnesota lakes, winter 2002-03. Table 59. Mean ratings, on a 10-point scale, of the day’s fishing quality, as rated by participating angler parties, Medicine Lake, winter 2002-03. Table 60. Frequencies of response ratings for fishing trip quality, participating angler parties, Medicine Lake, winter 2002-03. Table 61. Mean ratings, on a 10-point scale, of the day’s fishing quality, as rated by participating angler parties, Lake Independence, winter 2002-03.

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List of Tables, continued

Table 62. Frequencies of response ratings for fishing trip quality, participating angler parties, Lake Independence, winter 2002-03. Table 63. Mean ratings, on a 10-point scale, of the day’s fishing quality, as rated by participating angler parties, Lake Sarah, winter 2002-03. Table 64. Frequencies of response ratings for fishing trip quality, participating angler parties, Lake Sarah, winter 2002-03. Table 65. Summary of strata statistics for Medicine Lake, Minnesota creel survey, April-July 2003. Table 66. survey, August-October 2003.

Summary of strata statistics for Medicine Lake, Minnesota creel

Table 67. Summary of strata statistics for Lake Independence, Minnesota creel survey, April-July 2003. Table 68. Summary of strata statistics for Lake Independence, Minnesota creel survey, August-October 2003. Table 69. Summary of strata statistics for Lake Sarah, Minnesota creel survey, April-July 2003. Table 70. Summary of strata statistics for Lake Sarah, Minnesota creel survey, August-October 2003. Table 71. Monthly fishing pressure and fishing pressure density, 3 Hennepin County, Minnesota lakes, open-water season 2003. Table 72. Types, amounts and percentages of non-fishing recreational use, 3 Hennepin County, Minnesota lakes, open-water season 2003. Table 73. Comparisons of select water recreation use and fishing estimates from 1980 and 2003 surveys during open-water (>summer=) season, Medicine Lake. Table 74. Comparisons of select water recreation use and fishing estimates from 1981, 1986, and 2003 surveys during open-water (>summer=) season, Lake Independence. Table 75. Comparisons of select water recreation use and fishing estimates from 1981 and 2003 surveys during open-water (>summer=) season, Lake Sarah. Table 76. Recreational water surface use, in user-hours, Medicine Lake, open-water season 2003. Table 77. Recreational water surface use, in user-hours, Lake Independence, open-water season 2003. Table 78. Recreational water surface use, in user-hours, Lake Independence, open-water season 2003.

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Table 79. Harvest, release, and catch numbers by fish species/ type, plus percentage of caught fish that were harvested, Medicine Lake, open-water season 2003. Table 80. Harvest, release, and catch numbers by fish species/ type, plus percentage of caught fish that were harvested, Lake Independence, open-water season 2003. Table 81. Harvest, release, and catch numbers by fish species/ type, plus percentage of caught fish that were harvested, Lake Sarah, open-water season 2003. Table 82. Overall harvest, release, and catch rates, Medicine Lake, open- water season 2003. Table 83. Sought harvest, release, and catch rates, Medicine Lake, open-water season 2003. Table 84. Overall harvest, release, and catch rates, Lake Independence, open-water season 2003. Table 85. Sought harvest, release, and catch rates, Lake Independence, open-water season 2003. Table 86. Overall harvest, release, and catch rates, Lake Sarah, open-water season 2003. Table 87. Sought harvest, release, and catch rates, Lake Sarah, open-water season 2003. Table 88. Yield, in pounds and pounds per acre, and percent of total represented, Medicine Lake, open-water season 2003. Table 89. Yield, in pounds and pounds per acre, and percent of total represented, Lake Independence, open-water season 2003. Table 90. Yield, in pounds and pounds per acre, and percent of total represented, Lake Sarah, open-water season 2003. Table 91. Mean length (in inches) of fish harvested and released by anglers, Medicine Lake, Minnesota, open-water season 2003. Table 92. Mean weight (in pounds) of fish harvested and released by anglers, Medicine Lake, Minnesota, open-water season 2003. Table 93. Mean length (in inches) of fish harvested and released by anglers, Lake Independence, Minnesota, open-water season 2003. Table 94. Mean weight (in pounds) of fish harvested and released by anglers, Lake Independence, Minnesota, open-water season 2003. Table 95. Mean length (in inches) of fish harvested and released by anglers, Lake Sarah, Minnesota, open-water season 2003.

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Table 96. Mean weight (in pounds) of fish harvested and released by anglers, Lake Sarah, Minnesota, open-water season 2003. Table 97. Length-frequency distributions of harvested fish, Medicine Lake, open-water season 2003. Table 98. Length-frequency distributions of released fish, Medicine Lake, open-water season 2003. Table 99. Length-frequency distributions of harvested and released fish, Medicine Lake, open-water season 2003. Table 100. Length-frequency distributions of harvested fish, Lake Independence, open-water season 2003. Table 101. Length-frequency distributions of released fish, Lake Independence, open-water season 2003. Table 102. Length-frequency distributions of harvested and released fish, Lake Independence, open-water season 2003. Table 103. Length-frequency distributions of harvested fish, Lake Sarah, open-water season 2003. Table 104. Length-frequency distributions of released fish, Lake Sarah, open-water season 2003. Table 105. Length-frequency distributions of harvested and released fish, Lake Sarah, open-water season 2003. Table 106. Percent of angler parties seeking specific fish species or types, 3 Hennepin County, Minnesota lakes, open-water season 2003. Table 107. Percentages of each gender fishing 3 Hennepin County, Minnesota lakes, open-water season 2003. Table 108. Age distributions of anglers fishing 3 Hennepin County, Minnesota lakes, open-water season 2003. Table 109. Percentages of anglers traveling different distances to fish 3 Hennepin County, Minnesota lakes, open-water season 2003. Table 110. Percent of angler parties using various electronic location devices while fishing, 3 Hennepin County, Minnesota lakes, open-water season 2003. Table 111. Mean ratings, on a 10-point scale, of the day’s fishing quality, as rated by participating angler parties, Medicine Lake, open- water season 2003. Table 112. Frequencies of response ratings for fishing trip quality, participating angler parties, Medicine Lake, open-water season 2003.

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Table 113. Mean ratings, on a 10-point scale, of the day’s fishing quality, as rated by participating angler parties, Lake Independence, open- water season 2003. Table 114. Frequencies of response ratings for fishing trip quality, participating angler parties, Lake Independence, open-water season 2003. Table 115. Mean ratings, on a 10-point scale, of the day’s fishing quality, as rated by participating angler parties, Lake Sarah, open- water season 2003. Table 116. Frequencies of response ratings for fishing trip quality, participating angler parties, Lake Sarah, open-water season 2003.

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Abstract Sportfish catch, fishing effort, and non-fishing water recreation were

measured for 3 Hennepin County, Minnesota lakes (Medicine, Independence,

and Sarah), from December 24, 2002 through October 14, 2003. Sampling was

stratified by month and day type. Total angler interviews numbers ranged

from 532 to 746. Fishing pressure, fishing pressure density, and fishing

trips for Medicine, Independence, and Sarah were: 95,128 angler-

hours/107.4 a-h per acre/31,837, 97,881 angler-hours/116.0 a-h per

acre/29,093, and 55,833 angler-hours/97.3 a-h per acre/15,742. More open-

water fishing than ice fishing occurred on Medicine and Independence; the

reverse was true for Lake Sarah. Total fish harvests ranged from 45,282-

94,913, with respective yield ranges of 20.1-45.5 lb/acre. Sunfish and

crappie were the most-harvested fish. The Lake Independence muskellunge

fishery has become well established. Walleye stocked in 1999 into Medicine

Lake are now being caught in small numbers. No hiring of a winter-season

creel clerk, wet fall 2002 weather, thinner 2002-03 ice cover, and

comparatively poor Lake Independence fishing success reduced samples of

both fish and anglers, particularly for Lake Independence walleye and Lake

Sarah northern pike. Most fishing pressure and catch-related estimates

from this survey were higher than comparable estimates from previous

surveys and Lake Class 24 estimates.

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1

3 Northern Hennepin County Lakes Creel Survey Completion Report

December 2002 through October 2003

Introduction / Study Areas

Three Schupp-Lake-Class 24 lakes (Medicine Lake, Lake Independence, and

Lake Sarah) in northern Hennepin County, Minnesota (Figure 1, Table 1), have

received State of Minnesota fish management activities since the late 1940s;

records exist of a Lake Independence fish survey in 1927. Medicine and

Independence, the largest of the three lakes, have received greater management

attention. Both of these waters have large regional parks located on them,

with accesses run by Three Rivers Park District. Lake Sarah has only a small,

city-maintained access.

All three of these lakes are natural bass-panfish-northern pike waters,

with no evidence of naturally reproducing walleye populations. Several

attempts to establish walleye have been made in Medicine Lake, and anglers

have reported catching yearling and adult fish stocked in 1999. Presently,

Medicine Lake is under a MN-DNR study of walleye stocking strategies— fry were

stocked in 2001 and “fryling” (small fingerling harvest in early summer) were

stocked in 2003. Lake Independence has been consistently stocked with walleye

since 1979, with present fingerling stocking of 2 lb/littoral acre biennially.

The lake has been stocked with pure-strain muskellunge since 1971. Lake

Sarah, with well-established, quality northern pike and bluegill populations,

is not currently stocked with other gamefishes.

All three lakes are popular fishing and recreational lakes, and all have

some degree of shoreline development. Of the three, only Medicine Lake has

shoreline development other than residential or park buildings. In addition

to providing updated, complimentary data for fish management use, MN-DNR West

Metro Area Fisheries Office staff wanted more information for potential

changes to regulations: adding harvest-restricting northern pike regulations

2

to either Lake Independence or Lake Sarah, and rescinding the northern pike

spearing ban on Lake Independence. Angler and fish-catch information from

Medicine Lake would also provide better analysis of the walleye-stocking

research study.

Results Summaries: Combined Winter and Open-Water Seasons

Medicine Lake

Five hundred sixty-nine angler parties were interviewed in 2002-03

(Tables 23, 66). Nine percent of interviews (50) were from anglers who had

finished their trips. Estimated fishing angler trips numbered 31,837 (Table

2).

Anglers fished an estimated 95,128 angler-hours (a-h); fishing pressure

density was 35.9 angler-hours per acre (a-h/acre). Winter fishing represented

42% of total hours (Table 2). Weekend and holiday angling was

disproportionately higher than number of days, accounting for 59% of total

angling (Appendix C). During the open-water season, fishing (all angler

types) accounted for 49% of water recreation user-hours (Tables 73,76).

Numerical fish catch estimate was 186,746 or 211 fish/acre (Table 3).

Sunfishes and crappies represented 84% of the total. Seven other fish species

or types were also caught (Table 3). Fifty-one percent of fish caught were

harvested (kept).

Poundage of sunfish, northern pike, and crappie together formed 95% of

the total (Table 4). More fish were harvested in the summer season, with

crappie the most notable exception (Table 3). Except for one walleye

measured, sizes of most fish caught and harvested were small to moderate

(Tables 5,8,11). With the exception of sunfish anglers, few parties went home

with one-third or more of allowable bag limits (Table 17).

Anglers sought crappie or northern pike most frequently. Ten to twenty

percent of anglers sought sunfish, largemouth bass, or had no species

3

preference (Table 18). While almost 90% of Medicine Lake anglers were male

(Table 19), a few parties made up solely of women or headed by a female while

rare, were encountered. Over half of anglers interviewed were age 35-54 (Table

20).

Over 80% of Medicine Lake anglers traveled 10 miles or less. Two

percent of those interviewed were out-of-state residents (Table 21).

Twenty-eight percent of angler parties were observed to have some sort of

electronic equipment on lake ice or aboard boats. Almost all devices seen

were the >flasher= type. Low-single-digit percentages of underwater cameras

and combinations of >flashers= and cameras were also seen (Table 22). No one

was observed using just an underwater camera.

Lake Independence

Six hundred fifty-seven angler parties were interviewed in 2002-03

(Tables 24, 68). Sixteen percent of interviews (102) were from anglers who

had finished their trips. Estimated angler trips numbered 29,093 (Table 2).









or types were also caught (Table 3). Thirty-one percent of fish caught were

harvested, reflecting the catch-and-release practices of muskellunge anglers

and, overall, less-than-satisfactory angling for several other species.

Poundage of sunfish and crappie combined formed 79% of the total (Table 4).

More fish were harvested in the winter (Table 3). Sizes of most fish caught

and harvested were not particularly noteworthy, though sizes of walleye and

4

muskellunge caught sparked no negative comments (Tables 6,9,13). Northern

pike sizes were more similar to Medicine Lake than to Lake Sarah. Few kept

high percentages of allowable limits (Table 17).

Slightly less than one-third of Lake Independence anglers sought

crappie, 20% sought muskellunge, and 15% sought walleye (Table 18). Almost

90% of Lake Independence anglers were male (Table 19). Only the very oldest

age groups of anglers were not well-represented or evenly represented (Table

20).

Approximately two-thirds of anglers traveled 10-25 miles to fish,

reflecting the lake’s location relative to the area’s population

concentrations. Few far-traveling anglers indicate that Lake Independence was

not a “destination” lake (Table 21).

Slightly over half of angler parties were observed with electronic equipment

on lake ice or aboard boats. Almost all devices seen were the >depth-finder=

or >flasher= type, with small numbers of underwater cameras seen (Table 22).

Lake Sarah

Four hundred seventy-seven angler parties were interviewed in 2002-03

(Tables 25, 70). Seventeen percent of interviews (79) were from anglers who

had finished their trips. Estimated angler trips numbered 15,742 (Table 2).









or types were also caught (Table 3). Thirty-seven percent of fish caught were

harvested.

5

Poundage of sunfish and crappie combined formed 83% of the total, and a

higher-than-expected largemouth bass harvest (Table 4). Thinner ice

conditions and lower spearing effort contributed to a reduced northern pike

harvest. Mean sizes of harvested sunfish and crappie were slightly better

than results from other lakes in our 3-county area (Tables 7,10,15); mean

northern pike size was better than all but small sample from Cedar Lake

(Polomis 2000). Fewer angling parties left Lake Sarah with low proportions of

allowable limits than Medicine Lake or Lake Independence anglers, and 30% kept

10 or more sunfish (Table 17). Fifteen percent of bass-seeking anglers

harvested two or more largemouth bass.

While a value of 65% percent seeking either Lake Sarah crappie or

sunfish isn’t unexpected, the 9% seeking northern pike is lower than expected.

More anglers sought largemouth bass than northern pike during the survey

period (Table 18). As with the two larger lakes in this survey, almost 90% of

Lake Sarah anglers were male (Table 19). Anglers age 35-44 were the most

frequently interviewed (Table 20).

Approximately one-third of anglers lived within 10 miles of the lake, a

higher percentage than for nearby Lake Independence. Those living from 10-25

miles represented 55% of Lake Sarah anglers. One percent of anglers were non-

Minnesota residents (Table 21).

Slightly over 40% parties were observed with electronic equipment on

lake ice or aboard boats. Almost all devices seen were the >depth-finder= or

>flasher= type, with small numbers of underwater cameras seen (Table 22).

Winter Season Creel Survey

Methods

A random, stratified, two-stage probability roving creel survey was

initiated on three lakes in northwestern Hennepin County, Minnesota: Medicine

(MN-DOW ID number 27-0104), Independence (27-0176), and Sarah (27-0191). The

proposed sampling period was December 4, 2002 through March 11, 2003.

6

Sampling methods, practices, and conventions were similar to those of recent

local surveys, with the exception that data were not stratified by angler

type. Angler types were recorded and summary results by angler type were

produced (Appendix D), but because other recent creel surveys (McBride 1996,

Polomis 2000, 2002) produced many strata with low or missing samples for some

angler types, summary data were calculated without angler-type stratification.

This decision reduced strata by a multiple of 3 (from 18 to 6 for each lake).

Sampling dates were changed from those initially proposed to fit the

actual period of ice fishing. A full-time survey clerk could not be hired

because of unexpected budgetary and personnel difficulties; other DNR

Fisheries staff filled in by sampling less frequently than originally

proposed. A revised schedule was devised so each lake was sampled at least

five weekdays and two weekend days per month (Appendix F). The reduced

sampling began December 24, 2002 and ceased for about two weeks in early

January because of abnormally warm temperatures and thin ice. On March 21,

2003, lake ice had begun to deteriorate; the last sample date was March 23,

2003.

Each workday was either a randomly pre-determined early shift (0600-1430

hours) or late shift (1300-2130 hours). In our short-staffed situation,

eight-hour shifts were optional, but workers were required to make activity

counts at scheduled times and obtain a sample of angler interviews.

On each workday, two instantaneous counts of fishing activity for each

lake (four total per shift) were assigned at randomly chosen times. In most

cases, two counts of a lake were made before leaving the lake for the day.

Because of sampling infrequency caused by worker shortage, sometimes all three

lakes were visited on a single workday, rather than the originally scheduled

two per workday. Six activity counts were thus made; travel between lakes

sometimes resulted in smaller-than-desired numbers of angler interviews.

Numbers of occupied fish houses, occupied spear houses, and open-ice

7

anglers were tallied during each count. Anglers fishing while sitting in cars

or trucks were considered open-ice anglers. We could only assume angler types

from outside views of occupied fish houses. Adjustments to angler type were

made if an interview revealed that fish house occupants were spearers.

Remaining on-lake time was spent seeking anglers and spearers to

interview. During interviews, the clerk treated multi-person parties fishing

together as a single interview group, unless the group numbered more than 5

(the maximum number of entry lines software provided for anglers= gender, age,

and ZIP code). Groups of anglers apparently fishing together-- but using any

combination of fish houses, spearing houses, and open ice-- were artificially

separated into interview parties based on angler types, since the analysis

software program accepted only one angler type per interview group.

Information from interviews and activity counts was recorded on an

interview form we created (Appendix G) and on one slightly modified from the

standard MN-DNR Fisheries Activity Report form. In addition to typical data

collected from interviews, the clerk asked this question to gauge perceptions

of fishing success: AOn a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being poor and 10 being

excellent, how would you rate fishing today, based on size and number of fish

caught?@ Responses of Azero@ or less were recorded as 1.

The clerk also obtained, whenever possible, sample lengths and weights

of captured fish. The clerk also recorded angler-reported sizes of released

fish and took scales from harvested predator species (northern pike, walleye,

largemouth bass, and muskellunge) when available and permissible.

Clerks were instructed to prioritize Acore data@ (amount of time fished,

number and species of fish harvested and released, fish species targeted)

during interviews, especially when anglers were ready to leave or barely

cooperative. A slight amount of attitudinal, fish-size, and demographic data

was missed because of this prioritization and because several different staff,

of varied skill and experience, conducted interviews.

8

Most data were entered and processed with MN-DNR Fisheries' Gencreel

Angler Survey Analysis Program (version 2), supplemented by other analyses

with Excel software.

Results and Discussion

Winter Survey Notes, All Lakes

The 0600-2200 period chosen matched activity patterns well; only one

interview (Medicine Lake, before 0600) had a party’s fishing activity outside

the anticipated angler-activity period. Lack of a strong walleye bite (and

thus overnight fishing) on Lake Independence played a role in angler use

patterns. Lake Independence anglers took advantage of a loophole in Three

Rivers’ Park District user rules and fees; by parking on the lake adjacent to

the shore, they avoided paying park use fees and the overnight (sunset-0500

parking fee). During sampling, no vehicles were seen parked on the Baker

Regional Park access lot.

There was little Lake Sarah spearing activity because of, according to

reports, cloudy water (largely because of a wet fall 2002 and ice conditions

thin enough for houses to break through). Fish houses also broke through and

froze into Medicine Lake.

For all three lakes, measures related to fishing pressure, total fish

catch, and crappie catch were higher than 75th percentiles for their Lake

Class (all LC 24). Lake Sarah and Medicine Lake had more measures above

median than Lake Independence. Lake Independence sunfish catch rate, however,

was one of the few measures above the 75th percentile (Table A3).

Medicine Lake

Twenty-one percent of the 121-day winter fishing season was sampled.

Fifty activity counts were made during the 25 days of sampling. Number of

interviews obtained was 133, a mean of 5.3 interviews each day (Table 23).

Mean number of people per angler party was 1.58.

Winter fishing pressure in Medicine Lake was 39,644 angler-hours (a-h),

with a corresponding density of 44.7 angler-hours per surface acre (a-h/acre).

9

Use decreased over the season; combined December and January pressure

accounted for two-thirds of the season total (Table 26). A slight majority of

fishing occurred on weekend days and holidays (Appendix B). An estimated

15,074 fishing trips were made, representing 47% of trips for the entire

survey (Table 2).

Six fish species or types were caught, with 57% of the catch harvested

(Table 27). Sunfish and crappie represented 90% of the harvest. There was

little spearing activity, and no interviewed spearers had fish for survey

clerks to measure. Harvest poundage (yield) was highest for, in descending

order, northern pike, crappie, and sunfish (Table 36).

Forty-nine percent of Medicine Lake anglers sought crappie, with 27%

seeking northern pike and 17% seeking sunfish (Table 54). Only 4% of

wintertime anglers were female (Table 55). A majority of anglers were adults

age 25-54 (Table 56). Eighty-nine percent of those interviewed lived within

10 miles of Medicine Lake. The top 5 cities of residence, inferred from ZIP

codes, were Minneapolis, Plymouth, Brooklyn Center, Golden Valley, and Maple

Grove (Table 57).

Interviewees rated overall fishing quality as below average (3.6 on a 1-

10 scale), with panfish (sunfish and crappie) anglers expressing higher

overall satisfaction than northern pike anglers (Tables 59,60).

Lake Independence

Twenty-one percent of the 121-day winter fishing season was sampled.

Fifty activity counts were made during the 25 days of sampling. Number of

interviews obtained was 90, a mean of 1.8 interviews each day (Table 23).


Winter fishing pressure in Lake Independence was 33,157 angler-hours (a-

h), with a corresponding density of 39.3 angler-hours per surface acre (a-

h/acre). Use decreased over the season; combined December and January

pressure accounted for 71% of the season total (Table 26). A majority of

fishing (64%) occurred on weekend days and holidays (Appendix B). An

10

estimated 11,553 fishing trips were made, representing 40% of trips for the

entire survey (Table 2).

Five fish species or types were caught, with 40% of the catch harvested

(Table 28). Sunfish and crappie represented 95% of the harvest. Harvest

poundage (yield) was highest for, in descending order, crappie, sunfish, and

walleye (Table 37).

Two-thirds of Lake Independence anglers sought crappie, with 19% seeking

walleye and 10% seeking sunfish (Table 54). Only 3% of wintertime anglers

were female (Table 55). Fifty-five percent of anglers were adults age 25-44

(Table 56). Two-thirds of those interviewed lived within 10 miles of Lake

Independence, and those living within 25 miles represented 90% of all anglers.

The top 5 cities of residence were in northwest Hennepin County or eastern

Wright County (Table 57).

Interviewees rated overall fishing quality as below average (3.4 on a 1-

10 scale), with panfish (sunfish and crappie) anglers expressing higher

overall satisfaction than northern pike anglers (Tables 59,60).

Lake Sarah

Twenty-two percent of the 121-day winter fishing season was sampled.

Fifty-four activity counts were made during the 27 days of sampling. Number

of interviews obtained was 129, a mean of 4.7 interviews each day (Table 25).


Winter fishing pressure in Lake Independence was 27,427 angler-hours (a-

h), with a corresponding density of 47.8 angler-hours per surface acre (a-

h/acre). Use decreased over the season; combined December and January

pressure accounted for 61% of the season total (Table 26). March fishing

pressure was only slightly less than in February, unlike the greater decliness

observed for the other two study lakes. A majority of fishing (62%) occurred

on weekend days and holidays (Appendix B). An estimated 8,963 angler trips

were made, representing 57% of trips for the entire survey (Table 2).

Five fish species or types were caught, with 48% of the catch harvested

11

(Table 29). Sunfish and crappie represented 99% of the harvest and 96% of

the poundage yield (Table 38).

Two-thirds of Lake Sarah anglers sought crappie, with 21% seeking

sunfish (Table 54). Five percent of wintertime anglers were female (Table

55). One-third of anglers were age 35-44 (Table 56). Two-thirds of those

interviewed lived within 10 miles of Lake Independence, and those living

within 25 miles represented 90% of all anglers. The top 5 cities of residence

were in northwest Hennepin County or eastern Wright County, with Cottage Grove

being an odd exception (Table 57). Of parties observed with electronic fish-

locating devices, only one was an underwater camera (Table 58).

Interviewees rated overall fishing quality as below average (mean of 3.6

on a 1-10 scale). Those seeking northern pike and sunfish, however, rated

trip quality nearer to average (Tables 63,64).

Open-Water Season Creel Survey

Methods

The random, stratified, two-stage probability roving creel survey was

resumed April 24, 2003 for the open-water season and was sampled through

October 14 (Appendix E). Sampling methods, practices, and conventions were

similar to those of recent local surveys (Polomis and McBride 1998; Polomis

2000, 2002), with the exception that data were not stratified by angler type.

Results by angler type were recorded and available in Appendix D. Fishing

and boating activity was assumed to occur from 0600-2100 hours from April

through August (15-hour day), from 0700-1900 in September (12-hour day), and

from 1000-2000 in October (10-hour day).

On most days sampled, two of the three lakes were visited, with one lake

visited for the first half of the shift and the second lake visited for the

second half of the shift. Visitation order and lake combination were randomly

chosen. Lake combinations were selected without replacement and scrutinized

so each lake-month-day type combination exclusive of April (e.g. Lake Sarah

12

July weekdays) was scheduled at least six times. In a few instances, all

three lakes were scheduled for a single day to increase sample visits (at the

expense of interview numbers). The creel clerk worked either a (randomly

assigned) early shift or late shift for six of the seven months. To adapt to

decreased daylight late in the season, the clerk worked four 10-hour days in

October, with a shift of 1000-2030.

Two activity counts per lake were scheduled; time at the lake not making

a count was spent interviewing anglers. The activity count form was the same

used during the winter season, and the angler interview form was similar to

the one used in winter, altered only to reflect open-water angling types

(Appendix F).

Results and Discussion

Open-Water Survey Notes, All Lakes

The chosen time frames of assumed activity were off slightly. Eight

Medicine Lake parties, 27 Lake Independence parties, and 24 Lake Sarah parties

reported fishing outside the bounds of anticipated angler-activity period.

(The majority of assumption violations were from anglers starting early.)

Despite lower sunfish and crappie possession limits taking effect on May 10,

2003 (Table 17), the creel clerk encountered no over-limit violations.

For all three lakes, measures related to fishing pressure, total fish

catch, catches for several species (sunfish, crappie, largemouth bass),

overall catch rates, and several sought catch rates (sunfish, crappie, and

largemouth bass) were higher than 75th percentiles for their Lake Class (all

LC 24). Many Lake Sarah values were comparably higher than those of the other

two lakes and of Lake Class 24 medians (Table A4).

Medicine Lake

Thirty-six percent of the 214-day survey period was sampled. Number of

interviews obtained was 395 (Table 66), a mean of 5.1 interviews per sample

day. Mean number of people per angling party was 2.2, and 9% of angling

parties had completed their trips (Table 66).

13

Fishing pressure was 62,957 a-h, with a corresponding density of 71.1 a-

h/acre. The high value for April should be considered an anomaly, as values

were inflated by a one-day children’s fishing event at French Regional Park.

Excluding April, fishing pressure built to a peak in June, then declined.

Only small amounts of fishing occurred in September and October (Table 71).

Two-thirds of angling took place on weekends and holidays (Appendix C).

Fifty-three percent of angler trips occurred during the open-water season

(Table 2).

The 65,830 estimated user-hours (u-h) of non-fishing recreation was

slightly higher than fishing use (Tables 72,73,76). July and August were the

months with the highest amounts and proportions of non-fishing water

recreation (Table 76). Both fishing and non-fishing recreation use was higher

in 2003 than in 1980 (Table 73), even when season lengths are equalized.

Eight fish species or types were caught (Table 79), with 47% of the

catch harvested. Sunfish and crappie formed 95% of the harvest. A few

walleyes were caught by anglers (Tables 95-97), providing evidence of survival

from both the 1999 fingerling-adult stocking and the 2001 fry stocking.

Eighty-four percent of the poundage harvest consisted of sunfish and

crappie; largemouth bass and northern pike each represented 7% of the total

(Table 88). Species preferences, if any, were spread fairly evenly (18-25%)

among crappie, sunfish, and northern pike (Table 106).

Over 80% of anglers were male, and the greatest representation among age

groups was those 35-44 (Tables 107, 108). Almost 80% of anglers lived within

10 miles of Medicine Lake; anglers were most frequently from Plymouth,

Minneapolis, and cities between them (Table 109). All anglers observed with

electronics had depth-finder/flasher types; no underwater cameras or GPS units

were seen (Table 110). Anglers considered their trips “average” or slightly

below, based on responses to the trip-rating question. There was no

discernable difference among all anglers and anglers seeking certain fishes

(Tables 111, 112).

14

Lake Independence






h/acre. Fishing use increased from ice-out until attaining a peak in June,

followed by an overall pattern of decrease from late summer into fall (Table

71). Fifty-four percent of angling took place on weekends and holidays

(Appendix C). Fifty-seven percent of angler trips occurred during the open-

water season (Table 2).

The 33,388 estimated user-hours (u-h) of non-fishing recreation was one-

third of the amount of fishing use (Tables 72,74,77). July was the month with

the highest amount and proportion of non-fishing water recreation (Table 77).

2003 non-fishing recreation use was closer to the 1981 estimate than the 1986

estimate, but because fishing pressure increased an even greater amount,

proportion of fishing as total recreation in 2003 was the highest value

observed (Table 74).

Nine fish species or types were caught (Table 80), with only 29% of the

catch harvested— a value influenced by catch-and-release ethics for largemouth

bass and muskellunge. Sunfish and crappie formed 95% of the harvest.

Slightly over half of poundage harvested was crappie (Table 89). Few of the

walleye harvested were larger than 16 inches (Table 100).

Thirty-one percent of angler parties sought muskellunge (Table 106);

muskellunge anglers were the majority of those interviewed after September 1.

Comparatively low percentages of open-water-season anglers sought sunfish

(Table 106). Eighty-six percent of anglers were male, and 28% of anglers were

age 35-44 (Tables 107, 108). Two-thirds of anglers traveled 10-25 miles to

fish Lake Independence (Table 109. Slightly over half of anglers’ fishing

boats were equipped with electronics, but no hand-held GPS units or underwater

15

cameras were seen (Table 110).

Anglers considered their trips slightly below “average;” anglers fishing

for crappie or sunfish tended to give noticeably higher ratings. Muskellunge

anglers did not give the lake ratings higher than anglers on the whole (Tables

113, 114).

Lake Sarah






h/acre. Fishing use increased until June, followed by an overall pattern of

decrease from late summer into fall (Table 71). Fifty-two percent of angling

took place on weekends and holidays (Appendix C). Forty-three percent of

angler trips occurred during the open-water season (Table 2).

The 45,217 estimated user-hours (u-h) of non-fishing recreation

represented a greater percentage of on-water recreation than it in 1981,

despite being lower in value (Tables 72,75,77). Amounts of July and August

non-fishing recreation were similar, but only in July was boating more common

than fishing (Table 77).

Eight fish species or types were caught (Table 81), with 32% of the

catch harvested. Sunfish represented 80% of the harvest. Sunfish formed 56%

of poundage harvested. Surprisingly, both numbers and poundage of largemouth

bass harvested were greater than those of northern pike (Tables 81 and 90).

Sizes of harvested northern pike and sunfish (Tables 95, 96, 103) appear to be

slightly larger than those typically observed.

Thirty-four percent of Lake Sarah anglers sought largemouth bass (Table

106), a value higher than expected in a lake with a reputation more for

northern pike, sunfish, and crappie. Of the three lakes surveyed, Sarah had

the highest percentage of female anglers, though still less than 20% ((Table

16

107). Forty-eight percent of anglers were age 35-54 (Tables 106, 108).

Eighty-nine percent of anglers traveled up to 25 miles to fish Lake Sarah

(Table 109). Anglers considered their trips slightly above “average;” sunfish

and crappie anglers gave higher trip satisfaction ratings than those seeking

other species or having no preference (Tables 115, 116).

17

References

Gilbertson, B., 1982. A Water Surface Use Study of Thirty-Eight Metro Area Lakes, May 15-September 18, 1981. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Division of Fish and Wildlife, Section of Fisheries, Metro Region Report 15, St. Paul. Gilbertson, B., 1981. A Water Surface Use Survey of Forty-eight Metro Area Lakes May 16-September 19, 1980. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Division of Fish and Wildlife, Section of Fisheries, Fish Management Report 24/Metro Region Report 14, St. Paul. Polomis, T., and S. McBride, 1998. Creel Survey of Lake Minnetonka, Hennepin and Carver Counties, Minnesota, November 29, 1995-March 19, 1996 and May 15-October 31, 1996. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Division of Fish and Wildlife, Section of Fisheries, Study 4 Report, Job 388, St. Paul. Polomis, T., 2000. Creel Survey of Prior Lake, Spring Lake, and Cedar Lake, Scott County, Minnesota, Winter Season 1998-99 and Open-Water Season 1999. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Division of Fish and

Wildlife, Section of Fisheries, Study 4 Report, Job 388, St. Paul.

Polomis, T., 2002. Creel Survey of Lake Waconia and Steiger Lake, Carver County, Minnesota, December 2000-September 2001. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Division of Fisheries, Study 4 Report, Job 547, St. Paul. Stewart, J.I., 1987. Report on summer creel census 1986—Hyland, Bush, Inde- pendence, Rebecca Lakes. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Division of Fish and Wildlife, Fisheries Completion Report F-29R(P)-6, Study 5, Job 76, St. Paul.

18

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19

F-29-R(P)-23 Area F314 Study 4 Job 663 March 2003 MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, DIVISION OF FISH AND

WILDLIFE-- DIVISION OF FISHERIES

Completion Report

Winter Season 2002-03/Open-Water Season 2003 Creel Survey Creel Survey of 3 Northern Hennepin County, Minnesota Lakes

Approved by:

AREA FISHERIES SUPERVISOR DATE

REGIONAL FISHERIES SUPERVISOR DATE

Figure 1. Locations of Medicine Lake, Lake Independence, and Lake Sarah within Hennepin County, Minnesota.

20

21

Table 1. Selected characteristics of the 3 northern Hennepin County, Minnesota lakes surveyed in 2002-03. (Values are most recently available data from Minnesota DNR.) Medicine Independence Sarah Characteristic DOW ID Number 27-0104 27-0176 10-0191 (DNR Fisheries) Lake Class 24 24 24 Surface Acres 886 844 574 Percent Littoral (<15 ft) 45 50 65 Maximum Depth (ft) 49 58 59 Shoreline Development Factor 2.6 5.0 2.4 Secchi Disk Depth (ft) 5.4 2.6 3.8 Total Alkalinity-- ppm 115 141 121 Year of Lake Survey 1997 1994 2003 Year of Population Assessment 2000 2003 1996 Year Depth-Contour Map Made 1959 1957 1982 Table 2. Estimates of total fishing pressure in angler-hours (A-H), fishing pressure density in angler-hours per acre (A-H/A), and angler trips for 3 Hennepin County, Minnesota lakes, combined winter 2002-03 and open-water 2003 seasons. Medicine Independence Sarah A-H A-H/A A-H A-H/A A-H A-H/A

95,128 107.4 97,881 116.0 55,833 97.3

% of total angling in: winter season 42 34 51 open-water season 58 66 49 Angler trips made: # trips % # trips % # trips % winter season 15,074 47 11,553 40 8,963 57 open-water season 16,763 53 17,540 60 6,779 43

Total trips 31,837 29,093 15,742

Trips per acre 35.9 34.5 27.4

22

Table 3. Total harvest, release, and catch numbers by fish species/type, 3 Hennepin County, Minnesota, lakes, combined winter 2002-03 and open-water 2003 seasons. Listing is in descending order of numbers harvested. SE = 1 standard error. % of total Number Fish harvest / catch % Species/Type Harvest #/Ac Release #/Ac Catch #/Ac taken in winter harvested Medicine Lake Crappie 60,202.9 67.9 14,961.9 16.9 75,164.8 84.8 34% / 35% 80% Sunfish 28,952.3 32.7 53,277.9 60.1 82,230.2 92.8 48% / 34% 35% Northern pike 2,692.0 3.0 6,647.7 7.5 9,339.7 10.5 85% / 58% 29% Yellow perch 1,672.4 1.9 6,734.8 7.6 8,407.2 9.5 <1% / 4% 2% Largemouth bass 904.4 1.0 9,455.5 10.7 10,359.9 11.7 8% / 2% 9% Bullhead 450.4 0.5 317.6 0.4 768.0 0.9 0% / 22% 59% Walleye 38.4 0.04 105.7 0.1 144.1 0.2 0% / 0% 27% Bowfin -0- -0- 332.5 0.4 332.5 0.4 na / 0% -0- Total 94,912.7 107.1 91,833.6 103.6 186,746.3 210.8 40% / 36% 51% Lake Independence Crappie 26,371.6 31.2 38,399.0 45.5 64,770.7 76.7 35% / 29% 41% Sunfish 16,664.8 19.8 33,708.4 39.4 50,373.2 59.7 31% / 18% 33% Walleye 822.3 1.0 1,324.0 1.6 2,146.3 2.5 33% / 29% 38% Largemouth bass 793.5 0.9 9,863.8 11.7 10,657.3 12.6 0% / 0% 7% Yellow perch 472.8 0.6 10,474.8 12.4 10,947.6 13.0 93% / 83% 4% Northern pike 156.8 0.2 2,943.0 3.5 3,099.8 3.7 0% / 12% 5% Bowfin -0- -0- 167.1 0.2 167.1 0.2 na / 0% -0- Carp -0- -0- 25.4 0.2 25.4 0.2 na / 0% -0- Muskellunge -0- -0- 332.5 0.4 332.5 0.4 na / 0% -0- Total 45,281.8 53.7 97,929.6 116.0 143,211.5 169.7 33% / 27% 31% Lake Sarah Sunfish 39,602.7 69.0 71,074.6 123.8 110,677.3 192.8 32% / 30% 36% Crappie 19,054.3 33.2 14,422.6 25.1 33,476.9 58.3 73% / 66% 57% Largemouth bass 1,712.6 3.0 14,345.3 25.0 16,057.9 28.0 11% / 1% 11% Northern pike 160.1 0.3 621.4 1.1 781.5 1.4 0% / 0% 20% Yellow perch 24.5 0.04 841.0 1.5 865.5 1.5 0% / 71% 3% Bullhead -0- -0- 65.3 0.1 65.3 0.1 na / 0% -0- Bowfin -0- -0- 88.6 0.2 88.6 0.2 na / 0% -0- Walleye -0- -0- 6.3 0.01 6.3 0.01 na / 0% -0- Total 60,554.2 105.5 101,465.0 176.8 162,019.3 282.3 44% / 34% 37%

23

Table 4. Yield, in pounds (lb) and pounds per acre (lb/acre), 3 Hennepin County, Minnesota lakes, combined winter 2002-03 and open-water 2003 seasons. Medicine Lake Species/ Yield: % of Type lb lb/Acre total

Crappie 18,882.6 21.3 48 Northern pike 11,909.0 13.4 30 Sunfish 6,652.1 7.5 17 Largemouth bass 1,455.7 1.6 4 Bullhead 225.2 0.3 1 Yellow perch 201.3 0.2 1 Walleye 122.4 0.1 <1 Total 19,541.1 44.5 Lake Independence Species/ Yield: % of Type lb lb/Acre total

Crappie 9,774.9 11.6 58 Sunfish 3,575.5 4.2 21 Walleye 1,506.2 1.8 9 Largemouth bass 1,482.4 1.8 9 Northern pike 529.7 0.6 3 Yellow perch 56.8 0.1 <1 Total 16,925.4 20.1 Lake Sarah Species/ Yield: % of Type lb lb/Acre total

Sunfish 10,947.4 19.1 46 Crappie 8,723.1 15.2 37 Largemouth bass 3,099.3 5.4 13 Northern pike 795.9 1.4 3 Yellow perch 4.4 <0.1 <1 Total 23,570.1 41.1

24

Table 5. Mean lengths (inches) and weights (lb) of harvested and released fishes, Medicine Lake, combined winter 2002-03 and open-water 2003 seasons. (Values are unweighted means of seasonal estimates; missing values were not used; --- repre- sents missing value.) Harvested Fish Released Fish Species Length (in)/Weight (lb) Length (in)/Weight (lb) Bowfin --- / --- 20.0 / 2.65

Bullhead* 9.7 / 0.50 11.7 / 0.98

Crappie* 7.8 / 0.32 6.2 / 0.14

Largemouth bass 14.4 / 1.90 8.8 / 0.83

Northern pike 24.3 / 3.81 21.2 / 2.81

Sunfish* 6.9 / 0.25 5.4 / 0.10

Walleye 20.2 / 3.13 15.0 / 1.89

Yellow perch 6.4 / 0.11 5.9 / 0.09 * categories are combinations of related individual species-- black bullhead/yellow bullhead/ brown bullhead, white crappie/black crappie, and hybrid sunfish/green sunfish/pumpkinseed/ bluegill, respectively Table 6. Mean lengths (inches) and weights (lb) of harvested and released fishes, Lake Independence, combined winter 2002-03 and open-water 2003 seasons. (Values are unweighted means of seasonal estimates; missing values were not used; --- repre- sents missing value.) Harvested Fish Released Fish Species Length (in)/Weight (lb) Length (in)/Weight (lb) Bowfin --- / --- 24.0 / 4.36

Carp --- / --- 25.6 / 8.30

Crappie* 8.5 / 0.39 7.4 / 0.27

Largemouth bass 11.8 / 1.28 13.6 / 1.64

Muskellunge --- / --- 35.5 / 11.90

Northern pike 24.3 / 3.26 18.2 / 1.79

Sunfish* 6.9 / 0.24 5.1 / 0.09

Walleye 16.3 / 1.60 12.0 / 0.74

Yellow perch 6.8 / 0.12 5.6 / 0.08 * categories are combinations of related individual species-- black bullhead/yellow bullhead/ brown bullhead, white crappie/black crappie, and hybrid sunfish/green sunfish/pumpkinseed/ bluegill, respectively

25

Table 7. Mean lengths (inches) and weights (lb) of harvested and released fishes, Lake Sarah, combined winter 2002-03 and open-water 2003 seasons. (Values are unweighted means of seasonal estimates; missing values were not used; --- repre- sents missing value.) Harvested Fish Released Fish Species Length (in)/Weight (lb) Length (in)/Weight (lb) Bowfin --- / --- 26.8 / 7.00

Bullhead* --- / --- 13.2 / 1.33

Crappie* 8.9 / 0.45 6.7 / 0.19

Largemouth bass 14.3 / 1.99 14.1 / 1.72

Northern pike 26.1 / 4.42 24.2 / 3.59

Sunfish* 7.1 / 0.27 4.7 / 0.09

Walleye --- / --- 10.0 / 0.28

Yellow perch 7.4 / 0.18 6.1 / 0.10 * categories are combinations of related individual species-- black bullhead/yellow bullhead/ brown bullhead, white crappie/black crappie, and hybrid sunfish/green sunfish/pumpkinseed/ bluegill, respectively

Table 8. Age distributions of sampled harvested fish, Medicine Lake, combined winter 2002-03 and open-water 2003 seasons. (Rounding error might result in total percentages not equaling 100.) White Northern Largemouth Crappie Walleye Pike Bass Age # % # % # % # % 3 2 8 Length range (inches) 18.5-20.3 4 8 33 8 62 Length range (inches) 21.2-25.0 13.5-16.0 5 1 100 3 13 3 23 Length range (inches) 20.5 22.0-25.0 14.5-15.0 6 6 25 2 15 Length range (inches) 26.0-29.6 17.0-18.0 7 1 100 3 13 Length range (inches) 13.3 28.5-30.0 8 2 8 Length range (inches) 32.0-33.0 Total Number in Sample 1 1 24 13 Median Age n/a n/a 5 4

26

Table 9. Age distributions of sampled harvested fish, Lake Independence, combined winter 2002-03 and open-water 2003 seasons. (Rounding error might result in total percentages not equaling 100.) Black Northern Largemouth Crappie Walleye Pike Bass Age # % # % # % # % 2 3 60 Length range (inches) 12.0-14.5 3 1 25 3 43 Length range (inches) 21.0 10.2-10.5 4 1 100 2 40 2 50 2 29 Length range (inches) 8.5 17.5 24.0-25.5 16.2-16.5 5 2 29 Length range (inches) 16.2-16.5 6 1 25 1 14 Length range (inches) 26.5 16.5 8 1 14 Length range (inches) 18.0 Total Number in Sample 1 5 4 7 Median Age n/a 2 4 5 Table 10. Age distributions of sampled harvested fish, Lake Independence, combined winter 2002-03 and open-water 2003 seasons. (Rounding error might result in total percentages not equaling 100.) White Black Northern Largemouth Crappie Crappie Pike Bass Age # % # % # % # % 3 1 50 3 11 Length range (inches) 7.0 9.0-10.5 4 1 50 2 50 5 18 Length range (inches) 9.0 23.5-26.5 11.7-12.5 5 1 50 1 50 6 21 Length range (inches) 10.5 10.5 12.7-14.1 6 8 29 Length range (inches) 13.5-14.8 7 1 25 3 11 Length range (inches) 29.2 16.0-16.8 8 1 25 2 7 Length range (inches) 34.5 17.0 9 1 4 Length range (inches) 18.3 Total Number in Sample 2 2 4 28 Median Age 4 4.5 6.5 5.5

27

Table 11. Length-frequency distributions of harvested fish, Medicine Lake, combined winter 2002-03 and open-water 2003 seasons. Fish species/type codes: BLH=bullhead, CRP=crappie, LMB=largemouth bass, NOP=northern pike, SUN=sunfish, WAE=walleye, YEP=yellow perch. ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Length Category BLH CRP LMB NOP SUN WAE YEP [0.0, 3.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- --- [3.0, 3.5) --- --- --- --- --- --- --- [3.5, 4.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- --- [4.0, 4.5) --- --- --- --- --- --- --- [4.5, 5.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- 1 [5.0, 5.5) --- --- --- --- --- --- --- [5.5, 6.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- 1 [6.0, 6.5) --- --- --- --- --- --- 6 [6.5, 7.0) --- 13 --- --- --- --- 6 [7.0, 7.5) --- 72 --- --- --- --- 3 [7.5, 8.0) --- 136 --- --- --- --- 2 [8.0, 8.5) --- 227 --- --- --- --- 2 [8.5, 9.0) --- 69 --- 1 --- --- --- [9.0, 9.5) --- 24 --- --- --- --- --- [9.5, 10.0) --- 8 --- --- --- --- --- [10.0, 10.5) --- 5 --- 1 --- --- --- [10.5, 11.0) --- 5 --- --- --- --- --- [11.0, 11.5) 3 4 --- 1 --- --- --- [11.5, 12.0) --- 5 --- --- --- --- --- [12.0, 13.0) --- 2 --- 1 --- --- --- [13.0, 14.0) 1 1 --- --- --- --- --- [14.0, 15.0) --- --- --- 1 --- --- --- [15.0, 16.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- --- [16.0, 17.0) --- --- 1 1 --- --- --- [17.0, 18.0) --- --- 4 --- --- --- --- [18.0, 19.0) --- --- 3 --- --- --- --- [19.0, 20.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- --- [20.0, 21.0) --- --- 1 --- --- 2 --- [21.0, 22.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- --- [22.0, 23.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- --- [23.0, 24.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- --- [24.0, 25.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- --- [25.0, 26.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- --- [26.0, 27.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- --- [27.0, 28.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- --- [28.0, 29.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- --- [29.0, 30.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- --- [30.0, 31.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- --- [31.0, 32.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- --- [32.0, 33.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- --- [33.0, 34.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- --- [34.0, 35.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- --- [35.0, 36.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- --- [36.0+ ) --- --- --- --- --- --- --- Total 3 288 33 42 232 2 21

28

Table 12. Length-frequency distributions of released fish, Medicine Lake, combined winter 2002-03 and open-water 2003 seasons. Fish species/type codes: BOF=bowfin, CRP=crappie, LMB=largemouth bass, NOP=northern pike, SUN=sunfish, WAE=walleye, YEP=yellow perch. ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Length Category BOF CRP LMB NOP SUN WAE YEP [0.0, 3.0) --- 1 --- --- --- --- --- [3.0, 3.5) --- --- --- --- --- --- --- [3.5, 4.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- --- [4.0, 4.5) --- 2 1 --- 1 --- 4 [4.5, 5.0) --- --- --- --- 4 --- 4 [5.0, 5.5) --- 8 1 --- 17 --- 9 [5.5, 6.0) --- 2 --- --- 19 --- 2 [6.0, 6.5) --- 12 --- --- 12 --- 17 [6.5, 7.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- --- [7.0, 7.5) --- 7 --- --- 1 --- 15 [7.5, 8.0) --- --- --- --- 1 --- --- [8.0, 8.5) --- 4 8 --- --- 1 1 [8.5, 9.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- --- [9.0, 9.5) --- --- 1 1 --- --- --- [9.5, 10.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- --- [10.0, 10.5) --- --- 42 1 1 --- --- [10.5, 11.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- --- [11.0, 11.5) --- --- --- 1 --- --- --- [11.5, 12.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- --- [12.0, 13.0) --- --- 27 17 --- --- --- [13.0, 14.0) --- --- 12 2 --- --- --- [14.0, 15.0) --- --- 24 3 --- --- --- [15.0, 16.0) --- --- 35 9 --- --- --- [16.0, 17.0) --- --- 14 9 --- --- --- [17.0, 18.0) --- --- 10 5 --- --- --- [18.0, 19.0) --- --- 12 19 --- --- --- [19.0, 20.0) --- --- 5 9 --- --- --- [20.0, 21.0) 1 --- 3 6 --- --- --- [21.0, 22.0) --- --- 1 8 --- --- --- [22.0, 23.0) --- --- --- 7 --- 1 --- [23.0, 24.0) --- --- 1 5 --- --- --- [24.0, 25.0) --- --- --- 10 --- --- --- [25.0, 26.0) --- --- --- 3 --- --- --- [26.0, 27.0) --- --- --- 3 --- --- --- [27.0, 28.0) --- --- --- 3 --- --- --- [28.0, 29.0) --- --- --- 5 --- --- --- [29.0, 30.0) --- --- --- 1 --- --- --- [30.0, 31.0) --- --- --- 1 --- --- --- [31.0, 32.0) --- --- --- 3 --- --- --- [32.0, 33.0) --- --- --- 2 --- --- --- [33.0, 34.0) --- --- --- 6 --- --- --- [34.0, 35.0) --- --- --- 2 --- --- --- [35.0, 36.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- --- [36.0, 37.0) --- --- --- 4 --- --- --- [37.0, 38.0) --- --- --- 1 --- --- --- [38.0, 39.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- --- [39.0, 40.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- --- [40.0+ ) --- --- --- --- --- --- --- Total 1 36 197 144 56 2 52

29

Table 13. Length-frequency distributions of harvested fish, Lake Independence, combined winter 2002-03 and open-water 2003 seasons. Fish species/type codes: CRP=crappie, LMB=largemouth bass, NOP= northern pike, SUN=sunfish, WAE=walleye, YEP=yellow perch. ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Length Category CRP LMB NOP SUN WAE YEP [0.0, 4.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- [4.0, 4.5) --- --- --- --- --- --- [4.5, 5.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- [5.0, 5.5) --- --- --- --- --- --- [5.5, 6.0) --- --- --- 4 --- --- [6.0, 6.5) --- --- --- 15 --- --- [6.5, 7.0) 2 --- --- 50 --- 3 [7.0, 7.5) 13 --- --- 47 --- 2 [7.5, 8.0) 41 --- --- 27 --- --- [8.0, 8.5) 67 3 --- 3 --- --- [8.5, 9.0) 71 1 --- --- --- --- [9.0, 9.5) 74 1 --- --- --- --- [9.5, 10.0) 14 2 --- --- --- --- [10.0, 10.5) 1 4 --- --- --- --- [10.5, 11.0) --- 4 --- --- --- --- [11.0, 11.5) 1 1 --- --- --- --- [11.5, 12.0) --- --- --- --- 1 --- [12.0, 13.0) --- --- --- --- 3 --- [13.0, 14.0) --- --- --- --- 5 --- [14.0, 15.0) --- --- --- --- 10 --- [15.0, 16.0) --- --- --- --- 2 --- [16.0, 17.0) --- 4 --- --- 1 --- [17.0, 18.0) --- 2 --- --- 2 --- [18.0, 19.0) --- 1 --- --- 3 --- [19.0, 20.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- [20.0, 21.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- [21.0, 22.0) --- --- 2 --- --- --- [22.0, 23.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- [23.0, 24.0) --- --- 1 --- --- --- [24.0, 25.0) --- --- --- --- 1 --- [25.0, 26.0) --- --- 2 --- --- --- [26.0, 27.0) --- --- 1 --- --- --- [27.0, 28.0) --- --- 1 --- --- --- [28.0, 29.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- [29.0, 30.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- [30.0, 31.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- [31.0, 32.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- [32.0, 33.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- [33.0, 34.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- [34.0, 35.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- [35.0, 36.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- [36.0, 37.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- [37.0, 38.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- [38.0, 39.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- [39.0, 40.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- [40.0, 41.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- [41.0, 42.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- [42.0, 43.0) --- --- --- 1 --- --- Total 284 23 7 146 28 5

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Table 14. Length-frequency distributions of released fish, Lake Independence, combined winter 2002-03 and open-water 2003 seasons. Fish species/type codes: BOF=bowfin, CRP=crappie, LMB=largemouth bass, MUE=muskellunge, NOP=northern pike, SUN=sunfish, WAE= walleye, YEP=yellow perch. ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Length Category BOF CRP LMB MUE NOP SUN WAE YEP [0.0, 4.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- [4.0, 4.5) --- 6 1 --- --- 1 --- 1 [4.5, 5.0) --- 3 --- --- --- 4 --- 2 [5.0, 5.5) --- 8 --- --- --- 17 --- 32 [5.5, 6.0) --- --- --- --- --- 19 --- --- [6.0, 6.5) --- 3 10 --- --- 12 --- 7 [6.5, 7.0) --- 13 --- --- --- --- --- 7 [7.0, 7.5) --- 21 1 --- --- 1 --- 11 [7.5, 8.0) --- 12 --- --- --- 1 --- --- [8.0, 8.5) --- 42 6 --- --- --- 3 1 [8.5, 9.0) --- 4 --- --- --- --- --- --- [9.0, 9.5) --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- [9.5, 10.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- [10.0, 10.5) --- --- 6 --- --- 1 3 --- [10.5, 11.0) --- --- --- --- 1 --- --- --- [11.0, 11.5) --- --- 2 --- --- --- --- --- [11.5, 12.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- 1 --- [12.0, 13.0) --- --- 18 1 5 --- --- --- [13.0, 14.0) --- --- 10 --- 3 --- --- --- [14.0, 15.0) --- --- 15 --- 1 --- 1 --- [15.0, 16.0) --- --- 22 --- 1 --- 2 --- [16.0, 17.0) --- --- 11 --- 12 --- --- --- [17.0, 18.0) --- --- 8 --- 5 --- --- --- [18.0, 19.0) --- --- 10 --- 10 --- 2 --- [19.0, 20.0) --- --- 2 --- 5 --- 1 --- [20.0, 21.0) --- --- 2 3 11 --- --- --- [21.0, 22.0) --- --- 1 --- 9 --- 2 --- [22.0, 23.0) --- --- --- === 4 --- --- --- [23.0, 24.0) --- --- --- === 2 --- --- --- [24.0, 25.0) 1 --- --- --- 7 --- --- --- [25.0, 26.0) --- --- --- --- 2 --- --- --- [26.0, 27.0) --- --- --- --- 3 --- --- --- [27.0, 28.0) --- --- --- 1 2 --- --- --- [28.0, 29.0) --- --- --- 1 6 --- --- --- [29.0, 30.0) --- --- --- 2 1 --- --- --- [30.0, 31.0) --- --- --- 1 4 --- --- --- [31.0, 32.0) --- --- --- 3 1 --- --- --- [32.0, 33.0) --- --- --- 1 1 --- --- --- [33.0, 34.0) --- --- --- 1 1 --- --- --- [34.0, 35.0) --- --- --- 3 3 --- --- --- [35.0, 36.0) --- --- --- 7 1 --- --- --- [36.0, 37.0) --- --- --- 4 --- --- --- --- [37.0, 38.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- [38.0, 39.0) --- --- --- 6 --- --- --- --- [39.0, 40.0) --- --- --- 6 --- --- --- --- [40.0+ ) --- --- --- 15* --- --- --- --- Total 1 71 125 55 101 10 15 71 * largest muskellunge reported: 47 inches

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Table 15. Length-frequency distributions of harvested fish, Lake Sarah, combined winter 2002-03 and open-water 2003 seasons. Fish species/ type codes: CRP=crappie, LMB=largemouth bass, NOP=northern pike, SUN=sunfish. ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Length Category CRP LMB NOP SUN [0.0, 3.0) --- --- --- --- [3.0, 3.5) --- --- --- --- [3.5, 4.0) --- --- --- --- [4.0, 4.5) --- --- --- --- [4.5, 5.0) --- --- --- --- [5.0, 5.5) --- --- --- --- [5.5, 6.0) --- --- --- --- [6.0, 6.5) --- --- --- 24 [6.5, 7.0) 2 --- --- 136 [7.0, 7.5) 8 --- --- 225 [7.5, 8.0) 17 --- --- 112 [8.0, 8.5) 67 --- --- 11 [8.5, 9.0) 77 --- --- 2 [9.0, 9.5) 68 2 --- --- [9.5, 10.0) 36 1 --- --- [10.0, 10.5) 15 1 --- --- [10.5, 11.0) 9 2 --- --- [11.0, 11.5) --- 3 --- --- [11.5, 12.0) 3 3 --- --- [12.0, 13.0) 3 14 --- --- [13.0, 14.0) 2 8 --- --- [14.0, 15.0) 1 15 --- --- [15.0, 16.0) --- 5 --- --- [16.0, 17.0) --- 10 --- --- [17.0, 18.0) --- 9 --- --- [18.0, 19.0) --- 5 1 --- [19.0, 20.0) --- 1 --- --- [20.0, 21.0) --- 1 1 --- [21.0, 22.0) --- 1 1 --- [22.0, 23.0) --- --- --- --- [23.0, 24.0) --- --- 1 --- [24.0, 25.0) --- --- 1 --- [25.0, 26.0) --- --- --- --- [26.0, 27.0) --- --- 2 --- [27.0, 28.0) --- --- 1 --- [28.0, 29.0) --- --- 1 --- [29.0, 30.0) --- --- 2 --- [30.0, 31.0) --- --- --- --- [31.0, 32.0) --- --- --- --- [32.0, 33.0) --- --- 1 --- [33.0, 34.0) --- --- --- --- [34.0, 35.0) --- --- 1 --- [35.0, 36.0) --- --- --- --- [36.0, 37.0) --- --- --- --- [37.0, 38.0) --- --- --- --- [38.0, 39.0) --- --- --- --- [39.0, 40.0) --- --- --- --- [40.0+ ) --- --- --- --- Total 308 81 13 510

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Table 16. Length-frequency distributions of released fish, Lake Sarah, combined winter 2002-03 and open-water 2003 seasons. Fish species/ type codes: BOF=bowfin, CRP=crappie, LMB=largemouth bass, NOP= northern pike, SUN=sunfish, WAE=walleye, YEP=yellow perch. ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Length Category BOF CRP LMB NOP SUN WAE YEP [0.0, 3.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- --- [3.0, 3.5) --- --- --- --- --- --- --- [3.5, 4.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- --- [4.0, 4.5) --- 3 --- --- 2 --- --- [4.5, 5.0) --- --- --- --- 33 --- --- [5.0, 5.5) --- 2 --- --- 22 --- 1 [5.5, 6.0) --- 2 --- --- 51 --- 3 [6.0, 6.5) --- 15 2 --- 21 --- 4 [6.5, 7.0) --- 39 --- --- --- --- --- [7.0, 7.5) --- 37 --- --- --- --- 2 [7.5, 8.0) --- 13 --- --- --- --- --- [8.0, 8.5) --- 3 10 --- --- --- --- [8.5, 9.0) --- 2 --- --- --- --- --- [9.0, 9.5) --- --- 2 --- --- --- --- [9.5, 10.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- --- [10.0, 10.5) --- --- 20 --- --- 1 --- [10.5, 11.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- --- [11.0, 11.5) --- --- 3 --- --- --- --- [11.5, 12.0) --- --- 12 --- --- --- --- [12.0, 13.0) --- --- 102 --- --- --- --- [13.0, 14.0) --- --- 34 --- --- --- --- [14.0, 15.0) --- --- 45 --- --- --- --- [15.0, 16.0) --- --- 78 2 --- --- --- [16.0, 17.0) --- --- 46 --- --- --- --- [17.0, 18.0) --- --- 29 1 --- --- --- [18.0, 19.0) --- --- 37 4 --- --- --- [19.0, 20.0) --- --- 4 1 --- --- --- [20.0, 21.0) --- --- 2 1 --- --- --- [21.0, 22.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- --- [22.0, 23.0) --- --- --- 1 --- --- --- [23.0, 24.0) --- --- --- 3 --- --- --- [24.0, 25.0) --- --- --- 3 --- --- --- [25.0, 26.0) --- --- --- 4 --- --- --- [26.0, 27.0) 1 --- --- 2 --- --- --- [27.0, 28.0) --- --- --- 2 --- --- --- [28.0, 29.0) --- --- --- 1 --- --- --- [29.0, 30.0) --- --- --- 2 --- --- --- [30.0, 31.0) --- --- --- 2 --- --- --- [31.0, 32.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- --- [32.0, 33.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- --- [33.0, 34.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- --- [34.0, 35.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- --- [35.0, 36.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- --- [36.0, 37.0) --- --- --- 2 --- --- --- [37.0, 38.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- --- [38.0, 39.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- --- [39.0, 40.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- --- [40.0+ ) --- --- --- --- --- --- --- Total 1 116 426 31 129 1 10

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Table 17. Percentages of anglers harvesting given numbers of fish, anglers seeking specific species/types, 3 Hennepin County, Minnesota lakes, combined winter 2002-03 and open-water 2003 seasons. (From interviews where anglers completed trips; values in parentheses are number of parties who harvested that fish species/type.)

Medicine Lake Fish Number Fish Harvested per Anglera,b

Species/Type -0- 0.1-0.9 1-1.9 2-2.9 3-3.9 4-4.9 5-5.9 6 Northern pike (15) 66 20 7 7 -0- N/Ac N/A N/A Largemouth bass (14) 100 -0- -0- -0- -0- -0- -0- -0- -0- 0.1-4.9 5-9.9 10-14.9 15-19.9 20-24.9 25-29.9 30 Crappied (27) 63 26 7 4 -0- N/Ac N/A N/A Sunfishd (22) 32 9 18 18 -0- 23 -0- -0-

Lake Independencee

Fish Number Fish Harvested per Anglera,b

Species/Type -0- 0.1-0.9 1-1.9 2-2.9 3-3.9 4-4.9 5-5.9 6 Walleye (34) 76 12 3 3 3 -0- 3 -0- Largemouth bass (11) 100 -0- -0- -0- -0- -0- -0- -0- Northern pike (9) 88 8 4 -0- -0- N/Ac N/A N/A -0- 0.1-4.9 5-9.9 10-14.9 15-19.9 20-24.9 25-29.9 30 Crappied (20) 40 45 10 5 -x- N/Ac N/A N/A Sunfishd (8) 64 12 12 -0- 12 x x -x-

Lake Sarah Fish Number Fish Harvested per Anglera,b

Species/Type -0- 0.1-0.9 1-1.9 2-2.9 3-3.9 4-4.9 5-5.9 6 Northern pike (13) 70 15 15 -0- -0- N/Ac N/A N/A Largemouth bass (27) 71 7 7 11 4 -0- -0- -0- -0- 0.1-4.9 5-9.9 10-14.9 15-19.9 20-24.9 25-29.9 30 Crappied (34) 32 41 18 -0- 9 N/Ac N/A N/A Sunfishd (36) 25 28 17 8 11 11 -0- -0-

a Determined by dividing, for each completed-trip interview, total number of fish species/type harvested by number of anglers in interviewed party b Daily harvest (bag) limits during survey: 6 largemouth bass, 6 walleye (only 1 >24 inches) 3 northern pike (only 1 >30 inches); 30 sunfish until May 10, 2003, then 20; 15 crappie until May 10, 2003, then 10

c N/A-- not applicable because category exceeds bag limit and no over-limit violations observed

d includes anglers seeking “panfish” e Of 35 muskellunge-seeking parties who completed their trips, none harvested muskellunge

34

Table 18. Estimated percent (%) of angler parties seeking selected fishes or combinations1 based on seasonal percentages and estimated angler-hours2, 3 Hennepin County, Minnesota lakes, combined winter 2002-03 and open-water 2003 seasons. Medicine Independence Sarah Fish Sought % % % Crappie 31 31 43 Northern pike 22 5 9 Bluegill/Sunfish 18 9 22 No Preference/=Anything= 13 12 8 Largemouth bass 14 6 17 Walleye -0- 15 -0- Yellow perch 2 2 1 Muskellunge -0- 20 -0- Carp -0- <1 -0- 1 Responses for multiple preferences were split equally among fish species/type stated, then added to respective single-species totals; e.g. a response of seeking "northerns and walleyes" was entered as 0.5 northern pike and 0.5 walleye. A ”panfish" preference was separated as 0.4 each for bluegill/sunfish and crappie, and 0.2 for yellow perch. 2 calculated as: (% of angler parties seeking species winter season * winter season angler-hours) + (% of angler parties seeking species open-water season * open-water season angler-hours) / angler-hours for both winter and open-water seasons. Table 19. Percentages of each gender fishing 3 Hennepin County, Minnesota lakes, combined winter 2002-03 and open-water 2003 seasons. Lake Male % Female % Medicine (1,056 anglers) 86 14 Independence (1,400 anglers) 88 12 Sarah (963 anglers) 85 15 Table 20. Age distributions of anglers fishing 3 Hennepin County, Minnesota lakes, combined winter 2002-03 and open-water 2003 seasons. AGE GROUP under 65 & 16 16-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 older Total Medicine % 15 9 17 28 25 19 7 100 # surveyed 148 91 177 262 195 76 84 1,038 Independence % 15 12 19 28 16 6 4 100 # surveyed 211 169 264 378 225 84 58 1,384 Sarah % 14 9 13 31 17 6 10 100 # surveyed 132 87 120 293 159 62 91 944

35

Table 21. Percentages of anglers traveling different distances to fish 3 Hennepin County, Minnesota lakes, combined winter 2002-03 and open- water 2003 seasons. Distance Traveled to Lake (Miles) Number Lake <10 10-25 26-50 51-75 76-150 151+ ZIPs given % non-MN

Medicine 81 15 1 1 <1 2 1,042 2 Independence 21 64 11 1 1 2 1,380 1 Sarah 33 55 9 <1 1 1 958 1 Table 22. Percent of angler parties using various electronic location devices while fishing, 3 Hennepin County, Minnesota lakes, combined winter 2002-03 and open-water 2003 seasons. Shore anglers excluded. Medicine Independence Sarah Electronic Device % % % No Info Given/Recorded or Not Applic. 71 48 57 Depthfinder / Flasher 28 51 43 GPS -0- -0- -0- Underwater Video Camera <1 <1 <1 Multiple Devices (Camera + Flasher) <1 -0- -0-

36

Table 23. Summary of strata statistics for Medicine Lake, Minnesota creel survey, winter 2002-03. Values in parentheses represent 1 standard error; -- value not available or applicable. Season Stratum (Month) Value December-January February March Total Start date 12/1/02 2/1/03 3/1/03 12/1/02 End date 1/31/03 2/28/03 3/31/03 3/31/03 Fishing-day length, hours 16 16 16 16 Number of days in stratum 62 28 31 121 “ weekdays sampled 8 5 4 17 “ weekend days/holidays sampled 1 3 4 8 Number of activity counts 18 16 16 50 Number of interviews-- All 50 55 28 133 “ Fish-house anglers 29 36 10 75 “ Open-ice anglers 17 18 18 53 “ (Darkhouse) Spearers 4 1 -- 5 Mean number / Occupied fish houses 8.8 (4.4) 8.9 (1.9) 1.9 (0.4) 6.6 (0.9) activ. count: Occupied spear houses 0.4 (0.2) 0.1 (0.1) -- 0.3 (0.1) Open-ice anglers 7.9 (1.5) 5.5 (1.7) 3.1 (0.2) 5.6 (0.9) Mean number anglers / party 1.46 (0.20) 1.67 (0.26) 1.61 (0.51) 1.58 (0.18) Completed-trip information Number/% complete-trip interviews 12 / 24% 9 / 16% 2 / 7% 23 / 17% Mean trip length (hours) 2.35 (0.61) 2.99 (0.87) 2.75 (0.75) 2.63 (0.46)

Table 24. Summary of strata statistics for Lake Independence, Minnesota creel survey, winter 2002-03. Values in parentheses represent 1 standard error; -- value not available or applicable. Season Stratum (Month) Value December-January February March Total Start date 12/1/02 2/1/03 3/1/03 12/1/02 End date 1/31/03 2/28/03 3/31/03 3/31/03 Fishing-day length, hours 16 16 16 16 Number of days in stratum 62 28 31 121 “ weekdays sampled 7 5 4 16 “ weekend days/holidays sampled 3 3 3 9 Number of activity counts 20 16 14 50 Number of interviews-- All 43 38 9 90 “ Fish-house anglers 29 36 10 70 “ Open-ice anglers 17 18 18 20 Mean number / Occupied fish houses 11.2 (2.8) 5.8 (1.7) 0.6 (0.2) 6.5 (1.1) activ. count: Open-ice anglers 1.0 (0.6) 2.8 (1.4) 1.0 (0.4) 1.6 (0.5) Mean number anglers / party 1.81 (0.39) 2.16 (0.72) 1.56 (0.37) 1.93 (0.38) Completed-trip information Number/% complete-trip interviews 11 / 26% 3 / 8% 0 / 0% 14 / 16% Mean trip length (hours) 3.04 (0.93) 2.25 (--) -- 2.87 (0.74)

37

Table 25. Summary of strata statistics for Lake Sarah, Minnesota creel survey, winter 2002-03. Values in parentheses represent 1 standard error; -- value not available or applicable. Season Stratum (Month) Value December-January February March Total Start date 12/1/02 2/1/03 3/1/03 12/1/02 End date 1/31/03 2/28/03 3/31/03 3/31/03 Fishing-day length, hours 16 16 16 16 Number of days in stratum 62 28 31 121 “ weekdays sampled 8 5 4 17 “ weekend days/holidays sampled 2 4 4 10 Number of activity counts 20 18 16 54 Number of interviews-- All 44 58 27 129 “ Fish-house anglers 33 46 10 89 “ Open-ice anglers 9 11 17 37 “ (Darkhouse) Spearers 2 1 -- 3 Mean number / Occupied fish houses 5.7 (1.1) 7.6 (1.4) 2.4 (1.2) 5.3 (0.5) activ. count: Occupied spear houses 0.4 (0.2) 0.1 (0.1) -- 0.2 (0.1) Open-ice anglers 2.7 (0.6) 2.3 (0.7) 4.8 (1.6) 3.2 (0.4) Mean number anglers / party 1.50 (0.24) 1.64 (0.29) 1.85 (0.72) 1.64 (0.22) Completed-trip information Number/% complete-trip interviews 5 / 11% 3 / 8% 4 / 15% 22 / 17% Mean trip length (hours) 2.35 (1.08) 3.54 (1.46) 2.42 (0.60) 3.06 (0.98)

38

Table 26. Monthly and total fishing pressure estimates in angler-hours (a-h) and fishing pressure density in angler-hours per acre (a-h/acre), 3 Hennepin County, Minnesota lakes, winter 2002-

03. Value of 1 standard error in parentheses. (Sums of monthly values might differ slightly from listed totals because of rounding nding error.)

Medicine Independence a-h a-h/acre a-h a-h/acre Dec.-Jan. 26,664 (3,471) 30.1 (3.9) 23,501 (5,170) 27.8 (6.1) % of Total 67% 71% February 9,649 (1,606) 10.9 (1.8) 8,408 (2,687) 10.0 (3.2) % of Total 24% 25% March 3,331 (1,187) 3.8 (1.3) 1,248 (526) 1.5 (0.6) % of Total 9% 4% Season Total 39,644 (5,567) 44.7 (6.3) 33,157 (5,850) 39.3 (6.9) Sarah a-h a-h/acre Dec.-Jan. 16,713 (2,430) 29.1 (1.6) % of Total 61% February 5,742 (544) 10.0 (1.0) % of Total 21% March 4,972 (1,902) 8.7 (3.3) % of Total 18% Season Total 27,427 (9,685) 47.8 (5.5) Table 27. Harvest, release, and catch (harvested + released) numbers by fish species/type, plus percentage of caught fish that were harvested, Medicine Lake, winter 2002-03. SE = 1 standard error. (BLH=bullhead, CRP=crappie, LMB=largemouth bass, NOP=northern pike, SUN=sunfish, YEP=yellow perch) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | Har per Rel per Cat per Spp | Harvest SE Acre SE Release SE Acre SE Catch SE Acre SE ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ BLH | 0.0 0.0 0.00 0.00 165.8 173.0 0.19 0.20 165.8 173.0 0.19 0.20 CRP | 20402.3 3863.7 23.03 4.36 6149.1 1657.2 6.94 1.87 26551.4 4927.5 29.97 5.56 LMB | 74.9 81.3 0.08 0.09 165.8 166.2 0.19 0.19 240.7 185.0 0.27 0.21 NOP | 2313.0 574.0 2.61 0.65 3115.4 898.7 3.52 1.01 5428.3 1161.1 6.13 1.31 SUN | 13951.6 5742.1 15.75 6.48 14299.3 9793.0 16.14 11.05 28250.9 14346.2 31.89 16.19 YEP | 1641.7 840.2 1.85 0.95 5322.0 1583.6 6.01 1.79 6963.8 1845.6 7.86 2.08 ALL | 38383.5 7164.3 43.32 8.09 29217.4 10332.9 32.98 11.66 67600.9 15624.5 76.30 17.63 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

39

Table 28. Harvest, release, and catch (harvested + released) numbers by fish species/type, plus percentage of caught fish that were harvested, Lake Independence, winter 2002-03. SE = 1 standard error. (CRP= crappie, NOP=northern pike, SUN=sunfish, WAE=walleye, YEP=yellow perch) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | Har per Rel per Cat per Spp| Harvest SE Acre SE Release SE Acre SE Catch SE Acre SE ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CRP| 9294.7 4858.0 11.01 5.76 9532.7 2541.1 11.29 3.01 18827.5 7079.3 22.31 8.39 NOP| 0.0 0.0 0.00 0.00 357.2 221.2 0.42 0.26 357.2 221.2 0.42 0.26 SUN| 5116.7 5462.3 6.06 6.47 4011.5 4233.7 4.75 5.02 9128.2 9536.3 10.82 11.30 WAE| 273.0 225.0 0.32 0.27 357.2 247.2 0.42 0.29 630.2 443.0 0.75 0.52 YEP| 439.0 2215.3 0.52 2.62 8696.3 2667.1 10.30 3.16 9135.3 4539.1 10.82 5.38 ALL| 15123.5 7639.2 17.92 9.05 22954.8 5615.8 27.20 6.65 38078.3 12717.1 45.12 15.07 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Table 29. Harvest, release, and catch (harvested + released) numbers by fish species/type, plus percentage of caught fish that were harvested, Lake Sarah, winter 2002-03. SE = 1 standard error. (CRP= crappie, LMB=largemouth bass, NOP=northern pike, SUN=sunfish, YEP=yellow perch) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | Har per Rel per Cat per Spp| Harvest SE Acre SE Release SE Acre SE Catch SE Acre SE ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CRP| 13876.7 2419.2 24.18 4.21 8340.6 1969.0 14.53 3.43 22217.2 3909.4 38.71 6.81 LMB| 192.9 132.0 0.34 0.23 0.0 0.0 0.00 0.00 192.9 132.0 0.34 0.23 NOP| 0.0 0.0 0.00 0.00 0.0 0.0 0.00 0.00 0.0 0.0 0.00 0.00 SUN| 12830.7 5075.3 22.35 8.84 19898.2 14280.2 34.67 24.88 32728.9 18983.7 57.02 33.07 YEP| 0.0 0.0 0.00 0.00 620.7 221.2 1.08 0.39 620.7 221.2 1.08 0.39 ALL| 26900.3 5624.0 46.86 9.80 28859.5 14417.0 50.28 25.12 55759.7 19383.7 97.14 33.77 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Table 30. Overall harvest, release, and catch rates (number fish per angler- hour), Medicine Lake, winter 2002-03. SE = 1 standard error. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Har/ Rel/ Cat/ AnHr SE AnHr SE AnHr SE ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bullhead | 0.0000 0.0000 0.0042 0.0044 0.0042 0.0044 Crappie | 0.5146 0.0959 0.1551 0.0396 0.6698 0.1160 Largemouth bass | 0.0019 0.0038 0.0042 0.0070 0.0061 0.0052 Northern pike | 0.0583 0.0210 0.0786 0.0279 0.1369 0.0417 Sunfish | 0.3519 0.1471 0.3607 0.2871 0.7126 0.4040 Yellow perch | 0.0414 0.0473 0.1342 0.0187 0.1757 0.0431 All fishes | 0.9682 0.1831 0.7370 0.2917 1.7052 0.4246 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

40

Table 31. Sought harvest, release, and catch rates (number fish per angler- hour for those targeting specific fish[es]), Medicine Lake, winter 2002-03. SE = 1 standard error. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Har/ Rel/ Cat/ | | AnHr SE AnHr SE AnHr SE | Number of seekers ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Crappie | 0.9407 0.4697 0.2118 0.0831 1.1525 0.5286| 77 Largemouth bass | 0.3636 --- 0.0000 --- 0.3636 --- | 2 Northern pike | 0.1900 0.0480 0.2263 0.1251 0.4163 0.1172| 43 Sunfish | 1.4462 0.5313 2.5898 1.0881 4.0359 1.3832| 30 Yellow perch | 1.7340 1.0661 1.1586 1.4807 2.8926 1.8183| 9 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Table 32. Overall harvest, release, and catch rates (number fish per angler- hour), Lake Independence, winter 2002-03. SE = 1 standard error. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Har/ Rel/ Cat/ AnHr SE AnHr SE AnHr SE ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Crappie | 0.2803 0.1437 0.2875 0.1081 0.5678 0.1604 Northern pike | 0.0000 0.0000 0.0108 0.0069 0.0108 0.0069 Sunfish | 0.1543 0.1709 0.1210 0.1267 0.2753 0.3209 Walleye | 0.0082 0.0060 0.0108 0.0072 0.0190 0.0121 Yellow perch | 0.0132 0.0764 0.2623 0.0877 0.2755 0.1563 All fishes | 0.4561 0.2361 0.6923 0.2142 1.1484 0.3981 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Table 33. Sought harvest, release, and catch rates (number fish per angler- hour for those targeting specific fish[es]), Lake Independence, winter 2002-03. SE = 1 standard error. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Har/ Rel/ Cat/ | | AnHr SE AnHr SE AnHr SE | Number of seekers ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Crappie | 0.5008 0.1612 0.3082 0.0670 0.8090 0.2094| 69 Northern pike | 0.0000 0.0000 0.2622 0.0788 0.2622 0.0788| 4 Sunfish | 2.6370 1.3117 2.1348 0.9910 4.7718 2.2001| 14 Walleye | 0.0175 0.0109 0.0175 0.0138 0.0350 0.0206| 22 Yellow perch | 0.0000 --- 1.0000 --- 1.0000 --- | 1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Table 34. Overall harvest, release, and catch rates (number fish per angler- hour), Lake Sarah, winter 2002-03. SE = 1 standard error. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Har/ Rel/ Cat/ AnHr SE AnHr SE AnHr SE ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Crappie | 0.5060 0.0514 0.3041 0.0597 0.8101 0.0886 Largemouth bass | 0.0070 0.0049 0.0000 0.0000 0.0070 0.0049 Northern pike | 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 Sunfish | 0.4678 0.1950 0.7255 0.5370 1.1933 0.7192 Yellow perch | 0.0000 0.0000 0.0226 0.0024 0.0226 0.0024 All fishes | 0.9808 0.2018 1.0522 0.5403 2.0330 0.7246 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------

41

Table 35. Sought harvest, release, and catch rates (number fish per angler- hour for those targeting specific fish[es]), Lake Sarah, winter 2002-03. SE = 1 standard error. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Har/ Rel/ Cat/ | | AnHr SE AnHr SE AnHr SE | Number of seekers ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Crappie | 0.7648 0.1537 0.6013 0.1405 1.3661 0.2822| 97 Largemouth bass | 0.0000 --- 0.0000 --- 0.0000 --- | 1 Northern pike | 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000| 14 Sunfish | 3.4158 0.6280 1.9140 1.6243 5.3299 2.1819| 40 Yellow perch | 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.0000| 5 Table 36. Yield, in pounds (lb) and pounds per acre (lb/acre), and percent of total represented, Medicine Lake, winter 2002-03. SE = 1 standard error. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Har Lbs | Harvest per % of Spp | Lbs SE Acre SE total -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Crappie | 7845.0 2036.9 8.85 2.30 35 Largemouth bass | 185.4 201.5 0.21 0.23 1 Northern pike | 10761.1 5748.8 12.15 6.49 48 Sunfish | 3218.9 2029.1 3.63 2.29 15 Yellow perch | 197.7 104.9 0.22 0.12 1 Total | 22208.1 6449.9 25.07 7.28 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Table 37. Yield, in pounds (lb) and pounds per acre (lb/acre), and percent of total represented, Lake Independence, winter 2002-03. SE = 1 standard error. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Har Lbs | Harvest per % of Spp | Lbs SE Acre SE total -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Crappie | 3768.7 2988.4 4.47 3.54 70 Sunfish | 1046.9 2100.3 1.24 2.49 19 Walleye | 535.5 434.7 0.63 0.52 10 Yellow perch | 52.7 --- 0.06 -- 1 Total | 5403.8 --- 6.40 -- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

42

Table 38. Yield, in pounds (lb) and pounds per acre (lb/acre), and percent of total represented, Lake Sarah, winter 2002-03. SE = 1 standard error. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Har Lbs | Harvest per % of Spp | Lbs SE Acre SE total -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Crappie | 6586.9 2184.4 11.48 3.81 66 Largemouth Bass | 405.0 278.9 0.71 0.49 4 Sunfish | 3062.8 1915.2 5.34 3.34 30 Total | 10054.8 2918.4 17.52 5.08 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Table 39. Mean length (in inches) of fish harvested and released by anglers, Medicine Lake, Minnesota, winter 2002-03. SE = 1 standard error. (BLH=bullhead, CRP=crappie, LMB=largemouth bass, NOP=northern pike, SUN=sunfish, YEP=yellow perch) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Targeting Anglers | All Anglers |-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Har Rel Cat | Har Rel Cat | AvLn SE AvLn SE AvLn SE | AvLn SE AvLn SE AvLn SE -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BLH | --- --- --- --- --- --- | --- --- 11.70 17.13 11.70 17.13 CRP | 7.91 1.20 5.94 1.45 7.54 1.19 | 7.92 3.72 5.94 3.19 7.50 3.33 LMB | 15.75 --- --- --- 15.75 --- | 15.75 22.42 4.00 5.85 11.83 19.55 NOP | 25.20 5.36 22.07 6.60 23.86 3.46 | 25.20 18.71 21.61 15.61 23.55 11.13 SUN | 6.80 2.39 5.31 1.45 6.27 1.62 | 6.81 5.18 5.38 4.07 6.30 4.26 YEP | 6.53 1.23 6.42 5.70 6.45 3.86 | 6.70 7.64 5.87 7.45 6.10 6.31 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Table 40. Mean weight (in pounds) of fish harvested and released by anglers, Medicine Lake, Minnesota, winter 2002-03. SE = 1 standard error. (BLH=bullhead, CRP=crappie, LMB=largemouth bass, NOP=northern pike, SUN=sunfish, YEP=yellow perch) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Targeting Anglers | All Anglers |-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Har Rel Cat | Har Rel Cat Spp | AvWt SE AvWt SE AvWt SE | AvWt SE AvWt SE AvWt SE -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BLH | --- --- --- --- --- --- | --- --- 0.98 1.44 0.98 1.44 CRP | 0.36 0.06 0.17 0.05 0.32 0.06 | 0.36 0.17 0.16 0.06 0.32 0.14 LMB | 2.48 --- --- --- 2.48 --- | 2.48 3.53 0.03 0.08 1.66 3.06 NOP | 4.63 1.25 3.15 1.34 3.99 0.75 | 4.63 3.76 2.94 2.48 3.85 1.91 SUN | 0.23 0.08 0.10 0.03 0.18 0.05 | 0.23 0.17 0.10 0.08 0.18 0.13 YEP | 0.12 0.02 0.11 0.10 0.11 0.07 | 0.13 0.14 0.09 0.12 0.10 0.11 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

43

Table 41. Mean length (in inches) of fish harvested and released by anglers, Lake Independence, Minnesota, winter 2002-03. (CRP=crappie, NOP= northern pike, SUN=sunfish, WAE=walleye, YEP=yellow perch) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Targeting Anglers | All Anglers |-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Har Rel Cat | Har Rel Cat Spp | AvLn SE AvLn SE AvLn SE | AvLn SE AvLn SE AvLn SE -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CRP | 8.57 2.40 6.38 1.20 7.78 1.81 | 8.57 5.87 6.37 3.71 7.76 4.72 NOP | --- --- 11.00 --- 11.00 --- | --- --- 15.00 37.76 15.00 37.88 SUN | 6.77 2.61 4.80 1.36 6.50 2.39 | 6.77 9.76 4.80 5.28 6.50 8.59 WAE | 17.75 0.25 10.00 --- 15.17 2.59 | 17.75 19.71 10.00 8.74 15.17 0.74 YEP | --- --- 5.00 --- 5.00 --- | 6.83 9.04 5.64 3.63 5.72 4.71 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Table 42. Mean weight (in pounds) of fish harvested and released by anglers, Lake Independence, Minnesota, winter 2002-03. (CRP=crappie, NOP= northern pike, SUN=sunfish, WAE=walleye, YEP=yellow perch) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Targeting Anglers | All Anglers |-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Har Rel Cat | Har Rel Cat Spp | AvWt SE AvWt SE AvWt SE | AvWt SE AvWt SE AvWt SE -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CRP | 0.43 0.13 0.19 0.04 0.34 0.09 | 0.43 0.29 0.19 0.10 0.34 0.20 NOP | --- --- 0.26 --- 0.26 --- | --- --- 0.88 3.51 0.88 3.51 SUN | 0.21 0.08 0.07 0.02 0.19 0.07 | 0.21 0.30 0.07 0.08 0.19 0.25 WAE | 2.00 0.10 0.28 --- 1.43 0.58 | 2.00 --- 0.28 0.25 1.43 2.46 YEP | --- --- 0.05 --- 0.05 --- | 0.12 0.16 0.08 0.05 0.08 0.07 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Table 43. Mean length (in inches) of fish harvested and released by anglers, Lake Sarah, Minnesota, winter 2002-03. (CRP=crappie, LMB=largemouth bass, NOP=northern pike, SUN=sunfish, YEP=yellow perch) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Targeting Anglers | All Anglers |-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Har Rel Cat | Har Rel Cat Spp | AvLn SE AvLn SE AvLn SE | AvLn SE AvLn SE AvLn SE -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CRP | 8.80 1.49 6.69 2.02 8.01 1.72 | 8.80 4.00 6.67 4.58 7.99 3.82 LMB | --- --- --- --- --- --- | 14.10 20.19 --- --- 14.10 20.19 NOP | --- --- --- --- --- --- | --- --- --- --- --- --- SUN | 6.89 1.45 5.22 1.13 6.17 0.92 | 6.94 4.89 5.23 4.77 6.25 5.05 YEP | --- --- --- --- --- --- | --- --- 5.95 4.22 5.95 4.22 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Table 44. Mean weight (in pounds) of fish harvested and released by anglers, Lake Sarah, Minnesota, winter 2002-03. (CRP=crappie, LMB=largemouth bass, NOP=northern pike, SUN=sunfish, YEP=yellow perch) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Targeting Anglers | All Anglers |-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Har Rel Cat | Har Rel Cat Spp | AvWt SE AvWt SE AvWt SE | AvWt SE AvWt SE AvWt SE -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CRP | 0.48 0.08 0.21 0.06 0.37 0.08 | 0.48 0.22 0.21 0.14 0.37 0.18 LMB | --- --- --- --- --- --- | 2.10 3.01 --- --- 2.10 3.01 NOP | --- --- --- --- --- --- | --- --- --- --- --- --- SUN | 0.23 0.04 0.10 0.02 0.17 0.02 | 0.24 0.17 0.10 0.09 0.18 0.15 YEP | --- --- --- --- --- --- | --- --- 0.09 0.06 0.09 0.06 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

44

Table 45. Length-frequency distributions of harvested fish, Medicine Lake, winter 2002-03. (CRP=crappie, LMB=largemouth bass, NOP=northern pike, SUN=sunfish, YEP=yellow perch) ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────-----------------────────────────── Length Category CRP LMB NOP SUN YEP [0.0, 4.0) --- --- --- --- --- [4.0, 4.5) --- --- --- --- --- [4.5, 5.0) --- --- --- --- 1 [5.0, 5.5) --- --- --- --- --- [5.5, 6.0) --- --- --- 1 1 [6.0, 6.5) 1 --- --- 17 5 [6.5, 7.0) 6 --- --- 44 6 [7.0, 7.5) 29 --- --- 27 3 [7.5, 8.0) 48 --- --- 6 2 [8.0, 8.5) 31 --- --- 1 2 [8.5, 9.0) 10 --- --- --- --- [9.0, 9.5) 2 --- --- --- --- [9.5, 10.0) 1 --- --- --- --- [10.0, 10.5) --- --- --- --- --- [10.5, 11.0) 1 --- --- --- --- [11.0, 11.5) 1 --- --- --- --- [11.5, 12.0) 1 --- --- --- --- [12.0, 13.0) --- --- --- --- --- [13.0, 14.0) 2 --- --- --- --- [14.0, 15.0) --- 1 --- --- --- [15.0, 16.0) --- --- --- --- --- [16.0, 17.0) --- --- --- --- --- [17.0, 18.0) --- 1 --- --- --- [18.0, 19.0) --- --- --- --- --- [19.0, 20.0) --- --- --- --- --- [20.0, 21.0) --- --- --- --- --- [21.0, 22.0) --- --- 3 --- --- [22.0, 23.0) --- --- 3 --- --- [23.0, 24.0) --- --- 2 --- --- [24.0, 25.0) --- --- --- --- --- [25.0, 26.0) --- --- 5 --- --- [26.0, 27.0) --- --- 1 --- --- [27.0, 28.0) --- --- 2 --- --- [28.0, 29.0) --- --- 1 --- --- [29.0, 30.0) --- --- 1 --- --- [30.0, 31.0) --- --- --- --- --- [31.0, 32.0) --- --- --- --- --- [32.0, 33.0) --- --- 1 --- --- [33.0, 34.0) --- --- 1 --- --- [34.0, 35.0) --- --- --- --- --- [35.0, 36.0) --- --- --- --- --- [36.0, 37.0) --- --- --- --- --- [37.0, 38.0) --- --- --- --- --- [38.0, 39.0) --- --- --- --- --- [39.0, 40.0) --- --- --- --- --- [40.0+ ) --- --- --- --- --- Total 133 2 20 96 20 Min. Length 6.00 14.00 21.00 5.90 4.80 Max. Length 13.25 17.50 33.00 8.00 8.10 Mean Length 7.92 15.75 25.20 6.81 6.70

45

Table 46. Length-frequency distributions of released fish, Medicine Lake, winter 2002-03. (CRP=crappie, LMB=largemouth bass, NOP=northern pike, SUN=sunfish, YEP=yellow perch) ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────-----------------────────────────── Length Category CRP LMB NOP SUN YEP [0.0, 4.0) 1 --- --- --- --- [4.0, 4.5) 2 1 --- 1 4 [4.5, 5.0) --- --- --- 4 4 [5.0, 5.5) 8 --- --- 17 9 [5.5, 6.0) 2 --- --- 19 2 [6.0, 6.5) 12 --- --- 12 17 [6.5, 7.0) --- --- --- --- --- [7.0, 7.5) 7 --- --- 1 15 [7.5, 8.0) --- --- --- --- --- [8.0, 8.5) 4 --- --- --- 1 [8.5, 9.0) --- --- --- --- --- [9.0, 9.5) --- --- 1 --- --- [9.5, 10.0) --- --- --- --- --- [10.0, 10.5) --- --- --- --- --- [10.5, 11.0) --- --- --- --- --- [11.0, 11.5) --- --- --- --- --- [11.5, 12.0) --- --- --- --- --- [12.0, 13.0) --- --- --- --- --- [13.0, 14.0) --- --- --- --- --- [14.0, 15.0) --- --- --- --- --- [15.0, 16.0) --- --- 2 --- --- [16.0, 17.0) --- --- --- --- --- [17.0, 18.0) --- --- 1 --- --- [18.0, 19.0) --- --- 3 --- --- [19.0, 20.0) --- --- --- --- --- [20.0, 21.0) --- --- 1 --- --- [21.0, 22.0) --- --- --- --- --- [22.0, 23.0) --- --- 4 --- --- [23.0, 24.0) --- --- --- --- --- [24.0, 25.0) --- --- 1 --- --- [25.0, 26.0) --- --- --- --- --- [26.0, 27.0) --- --- --- --- --- [27.0, 28.0) --- --- --- --- --- [28.0, 29.0) --- --- 1 --- --- [29.0, 30.0) --- --- --- --- --- [30.0, 31.0) --- --- --- --- --- [31.0, 32.0) --- --- 1 --- --- [32.0, 33.0) --- --- 1 --- --- [33.0, 34.0) --- --- 1 --- --- [34.0, 35.0) --- --- --- --- --- [35.0, 36.0) --- --- --- --- --- [36.0, 37.0) --- --- --- --- --- [37.0, 38.0) --- --- --- --- --- [38.0, 39.0) --- --- --- --- --- [39.0, 40.0) --- --- --- --- --- [40.0+ ) --- --- --- --- --- Total 36 1 17 54 52 Min. Length 2.00 4.00 9.00 4.20 4.00 Max. Length 8.00 4.00 33.00 7.00 8.00 Mean Length 5.94 4.00 21.61 5.38 5.87

46

Table 47. Length-frequency distributions of harvested and released fish, Medicine Lake, winter 2002-03. (CRP=crappie, LMB=largemouth bass, NOP=northern pike, SUN=sunfish, YEP=yellow perch) ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────-----------------────────────────── Length Category CRP LMB NOP SUN YEP [0.0, 4.0) 1 --- --- --- --- [4.0, 4.5) 2 1 --- 1 4 [4.5, 5.0) --- --- --- 4 5 [5.0, 5.5) 8 --- --- 17 9 [5.5, 6.0) 2 --- --- 20 3 [6.0, 6.5) 13 --- --- 29 22 [6.5, 7.0) 6 --- --- 44 6 [7.0, 7.5) 36 --- --- 28 18 [7.5, 8.0) 48 --- --- 6 2 [8.0, 8.5) 35 --- --- 1 3 [8.5, 9.0) 10 --- --- --- --- [9.0, 9.5) 2 --- 1 --- --- [9.5, 10.0) 1 --- --- --- --- [10.0, 10.5) --- --- --- --- --- [10.5, 11.0) 1 --- --- --- --- [11.0, 11.5) 1 --- --- --- --- [11.5, 12.0) 1 --- --- --- --- [12.0, 13.0) --- --- --- --- --- [13.0, 14.0) 2 --- --- --- --- [14.0, 15.0) --- 1 --- --- --- [15.0, 16.0) --- --- 2 --- --- [16.0, 17.0) --- --- --- --- --- [17.0, 18.0) --- 1 1 --- --- [18.0, 19.0) --- --- 3 --- --- [19.0, 20.0) --- --- --- --- --- [20.0, 21.0) --- --- 1 --- --- [21.0, 22.0) --- --- 3 --- --- [22.0, 23.0) --- --- 7 --- --- [23.0, 24.0) --- --- 2 --- --- [24.0, 25.0) --- --- 1 --- --- [25.0, 26.0) --- --- 5 --- --- [26.0, 27.0) --- --- 1 --- --- [27.0, 28.0) --- --- 2 --- --- [28.0, 29.0) --- --- 2 --- --- [29.0, 30.0) --- --- 1 --- --- [30.0, 31.0) --- --- --- --- --- [31.0, 32.0) --- --- 1 --- --- [32.0, 33.0) --- --- 2 --- --- [33.0, 34.0) --- --- 2 --- --- [34.0, 35.0) --- --- --- --- --- [35.0, 36.0) --- --- --- --- --- [36.0, 37.0) --- --- --- --- --- [37.0, 38.0) --- --- --- --- --- [38.0, 39.0) --- --- --- --- --- [39.0, 40.0) --- --- --- --- --- [40.0, and up) --- --- --- --- --- Total 169 3 37 150 72 Min. Length 2.00 4.00 9.00 4.20 4.00 Max. Length 13.25 17.50 33.00 8.00 8.10 Mean Length 7.50 11.83 23.55 6.30 6.10

47

Table 48. Length-frequency distributions of harvested and released fish, Lake Independence, winter 2002-03. (CRP=crappie, SUN=sunfish, WAE=walleye, YEP=yellow perch) -------─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────------------────────────────── Length Category CRP SUN WAE YEP [0.0, 4.0) --- --- --- --- [4.0, 4.5) --- --- --- --- [4.5, 5.0) --- --- --- --- [5.0, 5.5) --- --- --- --- [5.5, 6.0) --- 2 --- --- [6.0, 6.5) --- 9 --- --- [6.5, 7.0) --- 31 --- 2 [7.0, 7.5) 3 15 --- 2 [7.5, 8.0) 17 4 --- --- [8.0, 8.5) 26 2 --- --- [8.5, 9.0) 28 --- --- --- [9.0, 9.5) 34 --- --- --- [9.5, 10.0) 7 --- --- --- [10.0, 10.5) 1 --- --- --- [10.5, 11.0) --- --- --- --- [11.0, 11.5) --- --- --- --- [11.5, 12.0) --- --- --- --- [12.0, 13.0) --- --- --- --- [13.0, 14.0) --- --- --- --- [14.0, 15.0) --- --- --- --- [15.0, 16.0) --- --- --- --- [16.0, 17.0) --- --- --- --- [17.0, 18.0) --- --- 1 --- [18.0, 19.0) --- --- 1 --- [19.0, 20.0) --- --- --- --- [20.0, 21.0) --- --- --- --- [21.0, 22.0) --- --- --- --- [22.0, 23.0) --- --- --- --- [23.0, 24.0) --- --- --- --- [24.0, 25.0) --- --- --- --- [25.0, 26.0) --- --- --- --- [26.0, 27.0) --- --- --- --- [27.0, 28.0) --- --- --- --- [28.0, 29.0) --- --- --- --- [29.0, 30.0) --- --- --- --- [30.0, 31.0) --- --- --- --- [31.0, 32.0) --- --- --- --- [32.0, 33.0) --- --- --- --- [33.0, 34.0) --- --- --- --- [34.0, 35.0) --- --- --- --- [35.0, 36.0) --- --- --- --- [36.0, 37.0) --- --- --- --- [37.0, 38.0) --- --- --- --- [38.0, 39.0) --- --- --- --- [39.0, 40.0) --- --- --- --- [40.0, and up) --- --- --- --- Total 116 63 2 4 Min. Length 7.00 5.70 17.50 6.60 Max. Length 10.00 8.00 18.00 7.10 Mean Length 8.57 6.77 17.75 6.83

48

Table 49. Length-frequency distributions of released fish, Lake Independence, winter 2002-03. (CRP=crappie, NOP=northern pike, SUN=sunfish, WAE=walleye, YEP=yellow perch) -------─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────------------────────────────── Length Category CRP NOP SUN WAE YEP [0.0, 4.0) --- --- --- --- --- [4.0, 4.5) 6 --- 2 --- 1 [4.5, 5.0) 3 --- --- --- 2 [5.0, 5.5) 8 --- 8 --- 32 [5.5, 6.0) --- --- --- --- --- [6.0, 6.5) 3 --- --- --- 7 [6.5, 7.0) 13 --- --- --- 7 [7.0, 7.5) 21 --- --- --- 10 [7.5, 8.0) 12 --- --- --- --- [8.0, 8.5) 2 --- --- --- 1 [8.5, 9.0) --- --- --- --- --- [9.0, 9.5) --- --- --- --- --- [9.5, 10.0) --- --- --- --- --- [10.0, 10.5) --- --- --- 1 --- [10.5, 11.0) --- --- --- --- --- [11.0, 11.5) --- 1 --- --- --- [11.5, 12.0) --- --- --- --- --- [12.0, 13.0) --- --- --- --- --- [13.0, 14.0) --- --- --- --- --- [14.0, 15.0) --- --- --- --- --- [15.0, 16.0) --- --- --- --- --- [16.0, 17.0) --- --- --- --- --- [17.0, 18.0) --- --- --- --- --- [18.0, 19.0) --- --- --- --- --- [19.0, 20.0) --- 1 --- --- --- [20.0, 21.0) --- --- --- --- --- [21.0, 22.0) --- --- --- --- --- [22.0, 23.0) --- --- --- --- --- [23.0, 24.0) --- --- --- --- --- [24.0, 25.0) --- --- --- --- --- [25.0, 26.0) --- --- --- --- --- [26.0, 27.0) --- --- --- --- --- [27.0, 28.0) --- --- --- --- --- [28.0, 29.0) --- --- --- --- --- [29.0, 30.0) --- --- --- --- --- [30.0, 31.0) --- --- --- --- --- [31.0, 32.0) --- --- --- --- --- [32.0, 33.0) --- --- --- --- --- [33.0, 34.0) --- --- --- --- --- [34.0, 35.0) --- --- --- --- --- [35.0, 36.0) --- --- --- --- --- [36.0, 37.0) --- --- --- --- --- [37.0, 38.0) --- --- --- --- --- [38.0, 39.0) --- --- --- --- --- [39.0, 40.0) --- --- --- --- --- [40.0, and up) --- --- --- --- --- Total 68 2 10 1 60 Min. Length 4.00 11.00 4.00 10.00 4.00 Max. Length 8.00 19.00 5.00 10.00 8.00 Mean Length 6.37 15.00 4.80 10.00 5.64

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Table 50. Length-frequency distributions of harvested and released fish, Lake Independence, winter 2002-03. (CRP=crappie, NOP=northern pike, SUN= sunfish, WAE=walleye, YEP=yellow perch) -------─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────------------────────────────── Length Category CRP NOP SUN WAE YEP [0.0, 4.0) --- --- --- --- --- [4.0, 4.5) 6 --- 2 --- 1 [4.5, 5.0) 3 --- --- --- 2 [5.0, 5.5) 8 --- 8 --- 32 [5.5, 6.0) --- --- 2 --- --- [6.0, 6.5) 3 --- 9 --- 7 [6.5, 7.0) 13 --- 31 --- 9 [7.0, 7.5) 24 --- 15 --- 12 [7.5, 8.0) 29 --- 4 --- --- [8.0, 8.5) 28 --- 2 --- 1 [8.5, 9.0) 28 --- --- --- --- [9.0, 9.5) 34 --- --- --- --- [9.5, 10.0) 7 --- --- --- --- [10.0, 10.5) 1 --- --- 1 --- [10.5, 11.0) --- --- --- --- --- [11.0, 11.5) --- 1 --- --- --- [11.5, 12.0) --- --- --- --- --- [12.0, 13.0) --- --- --- --- --- [13.0, 14.0) --- --- --- --- --- [14.0, 15.0) --- --- --- --- --- [15.0, 16.0) --- --- --- --- --- [16.0, 17.0) --- --- --- --- --- [17.0, 18.0) --- --- --- 1 --- [18.0, 19.0) --- --- --- 1 --- [19.0, 20.0) --- 1 --- --- --- [20.0, 21.0) --- --- --- --- --- [21.0, 22.0) --- --- --- --- --- [22.0, 23.0) --- --- --- --- --- [23.0, 24.0) --- --- --- --- --- [24.0, 25.0) --- --- --- --- --- [25.0, 26.0) --- --- --- --- --- [26.0, 27.0) --- --- --- --- --- [27.0, 28.0) --- --- --- --- --- [28.0, 29.0) --- --- --- --- --- [29.0, 30.0) --- --- --- --- --- [30.0, 31.0) --- --- --- --- --- [31.0, 32.0) --- --- --- --- --- [32.0, 33.0) --- --- --- --- --- [33.0, 34.0) --- --- --- --- --- [34.0, 35.0) --- --- --- --- --- [35.0, 36.0) --- --- --- --- --- [36.0, 37.0) --- --- --- --- --- [37.0, 38.0) --- --- --- --- --- [38.0, 39.0) --- --- --- --- --- [39.0, 40.0) --- --- --- --- --- [40.0, and up) --- --- --- --- --- Total 184 2 73 3 64 Min. Length 4.00 11.00 4.00 10.00 4.00 Max. Length 10.00 19.00 8.00 18.00 8.00 Mean Length 7.76 15.00 6.50 15.17 5.72

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Table 51. Length-frequency distributions of harvested fish, Lake Sarah, winter 2002-03. (CRP=crappie, LMB=largemouth bass, SUN=sunfish) -------─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────------------────────────────── Length Category CRP LMB SUN [0.0, 4.0) --- --- --- [4.0, 4.5) --- --- --- [4.5, 5.0) --- --- --- [5.0, 5.5) --- --- --- [5.5, 6.0) --- --- --- [6.0, 6.5) --- --- 13 [6.5, 7.0) 2 --- 80 [7.0, 7.5) 6 --- 78 [7.5, 8.0) 5 --- 14 [8.0, 8.5) 42 --- 5 [8.5, 9.0) 49 --- --- [9.0, 9.5) 50 --- --- [9.5, 10.0) 22 --- --- [10.0, 10.5) 7 --- --- [10.5, 11.0) 3 --- --- [11.0, 11.5) --- --- --- [11.5, 12.0) 1 --- --- [12.0, 13.0) 1 --- --- [13.0, 14.0) --- --- --- [14.0, 15.0) --- 1 --- [15.0, 16.0) --- --- --- [16.0, 17.0) --- --- --- [17.0, 18.0) --- --- --- [18.0, 19.0) --- --- --- [19.0, 20.0) --- --- --- [20.0, 21.0) --- --- --- [21.0, 22.0) --- --- --- [22.0, 23.0) --- --- --- [23.0, 24.0) --- --- --- [24.0, 25.0) --- --- --- [25.0, 26.0) --- --- --- [26.0, 27.0) --- --- --- [27.0, 28.0) --- --- --- [28.0, 29.0) --- --- --- [29.0, 30.0) --- --- --- [30.0, 31.0) --- --- --- [31.0, 32.0) --- --- --- [32.0, 33.0) --- --- --- [33.0, 34.0) --- --- --- [34.0, 35.0) --- --- --- [35.0, 36.0) --- --- --- [36.0, 37.0) --- --- --- [37.0, 38.0) --- --- --- [38.0, 39.0) --- --- --- [39.0, 40.0) --- --- --- [40.0, and up) --- --- --- Total 188 1 190 Min. Length 6.80 14.10 6.00 Max. Length 12.90 14.10 8.10 Mean Length 8.80 14.10 6.94

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Table 52. Length-frequency distributions of released fish, Lake Sarah, winter 2002-03. (CRP=crappie, SUN=sunfish, YEP=yellow perch) -------─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────------------────────────────── Length Category CRP SUN YEP [0.0, 4.0) --- --- --- [4.0, 4.5) 3 2 --- [4.5, 5.0) --- 33 --- [5.0, 5.5) 2 22 1 [5.5, 6.0) 2 51 3 [6.0, 6.5) 15 21 4 [6.5, 7.0) 39 --- --- [7.0, 7.5) 37 --- 2 [7.5, 8.0) 13 --- --- [8.0, 8.5) 3 --- --- [8.5, 9.0) 2 --- --- [9.0, 9.5) --- --- --- [9.5, 10.0) --- --- --- [10.0, 10.5) --- --- --- [10.5, 11.0) --- --- --- [11.0, 11.5) --- --- --- [11.5, 12.0) --- --- --- [12.0, 13.0) --- --- --- [13.0, 14.0) --- --- --- [14.0, 15.0) --- --- --- [15.0, 16.0) --- --- --- [16.0, 17.0) --- --- --- [17.0, 18.0) --- --- --- [18.0, 19.0) --- --- --- [19.0, 20.0) --- --- --- [20.0, 21.0) --- --- --- [21.0, 22.0) --- --- --- [22.0, 23.0) --- --- --- [23.0, 24.0) --- --- --- [24.0, 25.0) --- --- --- [25.0, 26.0) --- --- --- [26.0, 27.0) --- --- --- [27.0, 28.0) --- --- --- [28.0, 29.0) --- --- --- [29.0, 30.0) --- --- --- [30.0, 31.0) --- --- --- [31.0, 32.0) --- --- --- [32.0, 33.0) --- --- --- [33.0, 34.0) --- --- --- [34.0, 35.0) --- --- --- [35.0, 36.0) --- --- --- [36.0, 37.0) --- --- --- [37.0, 38.0) --- --- --- [38.0, 39.0) --- --- --- [39.0, 40.0) --- --- --- [40.0, and up) --- --- --- Total 116 129 10 Min. Length 4.00 4.40 5.00 Max. Length 8.50 6.00 7.00 Mean Length 6.67 5.23 5.95

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Table 53. Length-frequency distributions of harvested and released fish, Lake Sarah, winter 2002-03. (CRP=crappie, LMB=largemouth bass, SUN= sunfish, YEP=yellow perch) -------─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────------------────────────────── Length Category CRP LMB SUN YEP [0.0, 4.0) --- --- --- --- [4.0, 4.5) 3 --- 2 --- [4.5, 5.0) --- --- 33 --- [5.0, 5.5) 2 --- 22 1 [5.5, 6.0) 2 --- 51 3 [6.0, 6.5) 15 --- 34 4 [6.5, 7.0) 41 --- 80 --- [7.0, 7.5) 43 --- 78 2 [7.5, 8.0) 18 --- 14 --- [8.0, 8.5) 45 --- 5 --- [8.5, 9.0) 51 --- --- --- [9.0, 9.5) 50 --- --- --- [9.5, 10.0) 22 --- --- --- [10.0, 10.5) 7 --- --- --- [10.5, 11.0) 3 --- --- --- [11.0, 11.5) --- --- --- --- [11.5, 12.0) 1 --- --- --- [12.0, 13.0) 1 --- --- --- [13.0, 14.0) --- --- --- --- [14.0, 15.0) --- 1 --- --- [15.0, 16.0) --- --- --- --- [16.0, 17.0) --- --- --- --- [17.0, 18.0) --- --- --- --- [18.0, 19.0) --- --- --- --- [19.0, 20.0) --- --- --- --- [20.0, 21.0) --- --- --- --- [21.0, 22.0) --- --- --- --- [22.0, 23.0) --- --- --- --- [23.0, 24.0) --- --- --- --- [24.0, 25.0) --- --- --- --- [25.0, 26.0) --- --- --- --- [26.0, 27.0) --- --- --- --- [27.0, 28.0) --- --- --- --- [28.0, 29.0) --- --- --- --- [29.0, 30.0) --- --- --- --- [30.0, 31.0) --- --- --- --- [31.0, 32.0) --- --- --- --- [32.0, 33.0) --- --- --- --- [33.0, 34.0) --- --- --- --- [34.0, 35.0) --- --- --- --- [35.0, 36.0) --- --- --- --- [36.0, 37.0) --- --- --- --- [37.0, 38.0) --- --- --- --- [38.0, 39.0) --- --- --- --- [39.0, 40.0) --- --- --- --- [40.0, and up) --- --- --- --- Total 304 1 319 10 Min. Length 4.00 14.10 4.40 5.00 Max. Length 12.90 14.10 8.10 7.00 Mean Length 7.99 14.10 6.25 5.95

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Table 54. Percent of angler parties seeking specific fish species or types*, 3 Hennepin County, Minnesota lakes, winter 2002-03. Species/Type Medicine Independence Sarah Fish Sought % % % Crappie 49 66 67 Bluegill/Sunfish 17 10 21 Northern Pike 27 2 9 Walleye -0- 19 -0- No Preference/”Anything” 3 2 2 Yellow Perch 4 1 1 Largemouth bass <1 -0- <1 (Total # of interviews) (133) (90) (129) * Responses for multi-fish preferences were split equally among species/type stated, then added to respective single-species totals; e.g. a party's response of seeking "northerns and walleyes" was entered as 0.5 each for northern pike and walleye. The “panfish” preference was separated as 0.4 each for bluegill/sunfish and crappie and 0.2 for yellow perch.

Table 55. Percentages of each gender fishing 3 Hennepin County, Minnesota lakes, winter 2002-03. Medicine Independence Sarah Gender % % % Male 96 97 95 Female 4 3 5 (# anglers) (208) (172) (211) Table 56. Age distributions of anglers fishing 3 Hennepin County, Minnesota lakes, winter 2002-03. AGE GROUP under 65 & 16 16-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 older Total Medicine % 4 11 22 29 18 10 5 100 # surveyed 9 23 43 59 36 21 10 201

Independence % 5 19 33 22 10 9 1 100 # surveyed 9 38 56 38 17 15 11 169 Sarah % 5 18 19 35 14 8 1 100 # surveyed 11 36 38 71 29 16 3 204

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Table 57. Percentages of anglers traveling different distances to fish 3 Hennepin County, Minnesota lakes, winter 2002-03. Distance Traveled to Lake (Miles) Lake <10 10-25 26-50 51-75 76-150 151+ # Anglers

Medicine 89 9 -0- 2 <1 -0- 196 Independence 67 23 8 -0- <1 1 160 Sarah 46 40 10 <1 1 2 206 The 5 most frequent cities of residence (derived from ZIP codes): Medicine: Independence: Minneapolis 21% / 41 responses Maple Pl./Indep. 13% / 21 responses Plymouth 19% / 37 responses Plymouth 8% / 12 responses Brooklyn Center 15% / 29 responses Delano 6% / 11 responses Golden Valley 13% / 25 responses Rockford 5% / 9 responses Maple Grove 7% / 14 responses Maple Grove 4% / 9 responses Sarah: Rockford 17% / 34 responses Delano 7% / 14 responses Maple Grove 6% / 12 responses Cottage Grove 6% / 12 responses Buffalo 5% / 11 responses Table 58. Percent of angler parties using various electronic location devices while fishing, 3 Hennepin County, Minnesota lakes, winter 2002-03. Medicine Independence Sarah Electronic Device % % % No Info Given or Recorded / Not Applic. 68 50 48 Depthfinder / Flasher 28 48 51 GPS -0- -0- -0- Underwater Video Camera 2 2 1 Multiple Devices (Camera + Flasher) 2 -0- -0- Number Parties Surveyed 133 90 129

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Table 59. Mean ratings, on a 10-point scale, of the day’s fishing quality, as rated by participating angler parties, Medicine Lake, winter 2002-03. N = number of angler parties responding. Sums of species values exceeded total number of interviews because of multiple responses within a party. SE = 1 standard error. Angler Group Mean Rating SE N All Respondents 3.6 0.29 64 Parties Seeking Sunfish 3.8 0.69 13 " " Crappie 3.6 0.41 46 " " Northern pike 2.6 0.84 7 From responses to the questions “On a 1 to 10 scale, with 1 being poor and 10 being excellent, how would you rate your fishing today, based on size and number of fish caught?” Table 60. Frequencies of response ratings for fishing trip quality, participating angler parties, Medicine Lake, winter 2002-03. Value sums can exceed total number of interviews because ratings were applied to all fish species/types sought. <- lowest Rating-- Lake Fishing Quality highest -> Angler Type 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Total All Respondents 12 13 12 7 7 3 5 3 1 1 64 Those Seeking SUN 2 4 2 -0- 1 -0- 3 1 -0- -0- 13 " " CRP 17 2 5 7 6 2 1 2 1 3 46 " " NOP 3 2 -0- 1 -0- -0- 1 -0- -0- -0- 7 # From responses to the questions “On a 1 to 10 scale, with 1 being poor and 10 excellent, how would you rate your fishing today, based on size and number of fish caught?” SUN = sunfish CRP = crappie NOP = northern pike Table 61. Mean ratings, on a 10-point scale, of the day’s fishing quality, as rated by participating angler parties, Lake Independence, winter 2002-03. N = number of angler parties responding. Sums of species values exceeded total number of interviews because of multiple responses within a party. SE = 1 standard error. Angler Group Mean Rating SE N All Respondents 3.4 0.37 43 Parties Seeking Crappie 3.5 0.43 31 " " Walleye 2.9 0.64 15 From responses to the questions “On a 1 to 10 scale, with 1 being poor and 10 being excellent, how would you rate your fishing today, based on size and number of fish caught?”

56

Table 62. Frequencies of response ratings for fishing trip quality, participating angler parties, Lake Independence, winter 2002-03. Value sums can exceed total number of interviews because ratings were applied to all fish species/types sought. <- lowest Rating-- Lake Fishing Quality highest -> Angler Type 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Total All Respondents 15 5 5 3 6 5 2 -0- 1 1 43 Those Seeking CRP 10 3 4 3 4 4 2 -0- -0- 1 31 " " WAE 6 4 1 -0- 1 2 -0- -0- 1 -0- 15 # From responses to the questions “On a 1 to 10 scale, with 1 being poor and 10 excellent, how would you rate your fishing today, based on size and number of fish caught?” CRP = crappie WAE = walleye Table 63. Mean ratings, on a 10-point scale, of the day’s fishing quality, as rated by participating angler parties, Lake Sarah, winter 2002-03. N = number of angler parties responding. Sums of species values exceeded total number of interviews because of multiple responses within a party. SE = 1 standard error. Angler Group Mean Rating SE N All Respondents 3.6 0.29 64 Parties Seeking Sunfish 5.2 0.59 21 " " Northern pike 4.5 0.51 25 " " Crappie 3.6 0.41 45 From responses to the questions “On a 1 to 10 scale, with 1 being poor and 10 being excellent, how would you rate your fishing today, based on size and number of of fish caught?” Table 64. Frequencies of response ratings for fishing trip quality, participating angler parties, Lake Sarah, winter 2002-03. Value sums can exceed total number of interviews because ratings were applied to all fish species/types sought. <- lowest Rating-- Lake Fishing Quality highest -> Angler Type 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Total All Respondents 22 4 6 9 7 3 2 4 1 4 62 Those Seeking SUN 2 2 2 3 3 1 2 4 1 1 21 " " NOP 3 2 6 3 3 2 2 2 1 1 25 " " CRP 17 2 5 7 6 2 1 2 1 3 45 # From responses to the questions “On a 1 to 10 scale, with 1 being poor and 10 excellent, how would you rate your fishing today, based on size and number of fish caught?” SUN = sunfish CRP = crappie NOP = northern pike

57

58

Table 65. Summary of strata statistics for Medicine Lake, Minnesota creel survey, April-July 2003. Values in parentheses represent 1 standard error; -- value not available or applicable. Season Stratum (Month) April May June July Start date 4/1/03 5/1/03 6/1/03 7/1/03 End date 4/30/03 5/31/03 6/30/03 7/31/03 Fishing-day length, hours 15 15 15 15 Number of days in stratum 30 31 30 31 “ weekdays sampled 4 7 7 6 “ weekend days/holidays sampled 3 6 6 6 Number of activity counts 15 26 26 24 Number of interviews-- All 40 56 78 76 “ Boat anglers 8 44 67 28 “ Shore-based anglers 32 12 11 48 Mean number / Fishing boats 2.6 (0.9) 4.6 (1.1) 7.0 (0.8) 6.4 (0.9) activ. count: Shore-based anglers 2.6 (0.8) 7.0 (1.6) 3.4 (0.6) 2.3 (0.4) % Shore-based anglers using pier 12 34 20 50 Non-fishing boats & craft 2.1 (0.7) 4.2 (1.3) 11.2 (2.3) 19.8 (3.7) Mean number anglers / party 1.46 (0.20) 1.67 (0.26) 1.61 (0.51) 1.58 (0.18) Completed-trip information Number/% complete-trip interviews 12 / 24% 9 / 16% 2 / 7% 23 / 17% Mean trip length (hours) 2.35 (0.61) 2.99 (0.87) 2.75 (0.75) 2.63 (0.46)

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Table 66. Summary of strata statistics for Medicine Lake, Minnesota creel survey, August-October 2003. Values in parentheses represent 1 standard error; -- value not available or applicable. Season Stratum (Month) Entire August September October Season Start date 8/1/03 9/1/03 10/1/03 4/1/03 End date 8/31/03 9/30/03 10/31/03 10/31/03 Fishing-day length, hours 15 12 10 10-15 Number of days in stratum 31 30 31 214 “ weekdays sampled 6 8 3 41 “ weekend days/holidays sampled 7 5 4 37 Number of activity counts 26 25 13 155 Number of interviews-- All 80 73 22 395 “ Boat anglers 73 67 21 317 “ Shore-based anglers 7 6 1 78 Mean number / Fishing boats 5.8 (0.6) 1.9 (0.7) 3.2 (0.9) 4.7 (0.4) activ. count: Shore-based anglers 1.4 (0.2) 0.5 (0.2) 0.2 (0.2) 4.0 (0.9) % Shore-based anglers using pier 67 44 -0- Non-fishing boats & craft 21.0 (2.9) 3.1 (1.2) 1.5 (0.9) 10.0 (1.1) Mean number anglers / party 2.20 (0.26) 1.79 (0.55) 1.86 (0.63) 2.15 (0.18) Completed-trip information Number/% complete-trip interviews 3 / 4% 10 / 23% 8 / 35% 37 / 9% Mean trip length (hours) 4.08 (0.55) 3.48 (0.69) 3.43 (1.16) 3.31 (0.44)

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Table 67. Summary of strata statistics for Lake Independence, Minnesota creel survey, April-July 2003. Values in parentheses represent 1 standard error; -- value not available or applicable. Season Stratum (Month) April May June July Start date 4/1/03 5/1/03 6/1/03 7/1/03 End date 4/30/03 5/31/03 6/30/03 7/31/03 Fishing-day length, hours 15 15 15 15 Number of days in stratum 30 31 30 31 “ weekdays sampled 4 6 5 6 “ weekend days/holidays sampled 3 7 6 6 Number of activity counts 13 26 22 24 Number of interviews-- All 38 71 116 89 “ Boat anglers 29 58 97 75 “ Shore-based anglers 9 13 9 14 Mean number / Fishing boats 5.8 (1.4) 10.2 (2.2) 18.4 (3.4) 7.5 (0.9) activ. count: Shore-based anglers 1.8 (0.5) 4.0 (1.0) 3.3 (0.9) 3.6 (0.7) % Shore-based anglers using pier -0- 37 77 87 Non-fishing boats & craft 1.6 (0.7) 3.0 (0.9) 3.7 (1.0) 11.8 (2.6) Mean number anglers / party 2.16 (0.65) 2.53 (0.58) 2.14 (0.53) 2.38 (0.32) Completed-trip information Number/% complete-trip interviews 3 / 8% 14 / 20% 6 / 5% 7 / 8% Mean trip length (hours) 2.68 (0.30) 3.98 (2.26) 2.63 (0.40) 3.46 (1.19)

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Table 68. Summary of strata statistics for Lake Independence, Minnesota creel survey, August-October 2003. Values in parentheses represent 1 standard error; -- value not available or applicable. Season Stratum (Month) Entire August September October Season Start date 8/1/03 9/1/03 10/1/03 4/1/03 End date 8/31/03 9/30/03 10/31/03 10/31/03 Fishing-day length, hours 15 12 10 10-15 Number of days in stratum 31 30 31 214 “ weekdays sampled 6 8 3 38 “ weekend days/holidays sampled 7 6 3 38 Number of activity counts 26 28 11 150 Number of interviews-- All 119 81 53 567 “ Boat anglers 107 81 53 502 “ Shore-based anglers 12 -0- -0- 61 Mean number / Fishing boats 9.1 (1.1) 6.2 (0.9) 3.7 (1.0) 9.4 (0.8) activ. count: Shore-based anglers 3.7 (0.7) 0.2 (0.1) 0.3 (0.2) 2.6 (0.3) % Shore-based anglers using pier 44 -0- -- 53 Non-fishing boats & craft 8.3 (1.6) 1.0 (0.5) 0.7 (0.3) 0.8 (0.1) Mean number anglers / party 2.24 (0.31) 1.86 (0.34) 1.89 (0.58) 2.19 (0.18) Completed-trip information Number/% complete-trip interviews 2 / 2% 20 / 25% 36 / 38% 88 / 13% Mean trip length (hours) 1.75 (0.25) 5.01 (1.47) 3.26 (1.13) 3.69 (0.78)

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Table 69. Summary of strata statistics for Lake Sarah, Minnesota creel survey, April-July 2003. Values in parentheses represent 1 standard error; -- value not available or applicable. Season Stratum (Month) April May June July Start date 4/1/03 5/1/03 6/1/03 7/1/03 End date 4/30/03 5/31/03 6/30/03 7/31/03 Fishing-day length, hours 15 15 15 15 Number of days in stratum 30 31 30 31 “ weekdays sampled 4 6 6 8 “ weekend days/holidays sampled 2 7 6 6 Number of activity counts 11 26 24 28 Number of interviews-- All 2 67 66 55 “ Boat anglers -0- 55 56 50 “ Shore-based anglers 2 12 10 5 Mean number / Fishing boats -0- 5.6 (1.3) 6.2 (0.7) 4.0 (0.5) activ. count: Shore-based anglers 0.6 (0.5) 1.8 (0.4) 3.0 (0.7) 0.1 (0.3) Non-fishing boats & craft 0.1 (0.1) 1.4 (0.4) 4.2 (1.4) 3.5 (0.8) Mean number anglers / party 2.50 (--) 2.55 (0.70) 2.27 (0.39) 2.07 (0.27) Completed-trip information Number/% complete-trip interviews 0 / 0% 7 / 10% 11 / 17% 6 / 11% Mean trip length (hours) -- 4.04 (1.30) 4.45 (3.06) 4.17 (1.71)

63

Table 70. Summary of strata statistics for Lake Sarah, Minnesota creel survey, August-October 2003. Values in parentheses represent 1 standard error; -- value not available or applicable. Season Stratum (Month) Entire August September October Season Start date 8/1/03 9/1/03 10/1/03 4/1/03 End date 8/31/03 9/30/03 10/31/03 10/31/03 Fishing-day length, hours 15 12 10 10-15 Number of days in stratum 31 30 31 214 “ weekdays sampled 7 8 4 38 “ weekend days/holidays sampled 6 5 3 38 Number of activity counts 26 27 13 155 Number of interviews-- All 72 67 19 348 “ Boat anglers 69 63 19 312 “ Shore-based anglers 3 4 -0- 36 Mean number / Fishing boats 4.9 (0.6) 9.3 (0.7) 2.3 (0.6) 4.3 (0.4) activ. count: Shore-based anglers 0.5 (0.2) 0.4 (0.2) -0- 1.1 (0.2) Non-fishing boats & craft 3.6 (0.6) 1.6 (0.5) 0.5 (0.2) 2.5 (0.3) Mean number anglers / party 2.25 (0.31) 1.78 (0.33) 1.95 (0.74) 2.18 (0.19) Completed-trip information Number/% complete-trip interviews 8 / 11% 14 / 21% 11 / 58% 57 / 16% Mean trip length (hours) 3.56 (0.58) 3.32 (0.99) 5.61 (2.48) 4.19 (0.86)

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Table 71. Monthly fishing pressure (in angler-hours [A-H]) and fishing pressure density (angler-hours per acre [A-H/A]), 3 Hennepin County, Minnesota lakes, open-water season 2003. Value of 1 standard error in parentheses.

Medicine Independence % of % of A-H (SE) A-H/A (SE) total A-H (SE) A-H/A (SE) total April 30,159.5 (9,193) 34.0 (10.4) 48 5,535.3 (1,364) 6.6 (1.6) 9 May 6,965.6 (1,848) 7.9 (2.1) 11 12,627.3 (3,631) 15.0 (4.3) 19

June 8,981.4 (1,403) 10.1 (1.6) 14 16,794.5 (4,077) 19.9 (4.8) 26

July 7,533.2 (1,574) 8.5 (1.8) 12 10,746.4 (2,054) 12.7 (2.4) 17

August 6,279.5 (844) 7.1 (1.0) 10 11,902.3 (1,612) 14.1 (1.9) 18

September 1,476.5 (498) 1.7 (0.6) 2 3,879.7 (790) 4.6 (0.9) 6

October 1,561.4 (779) 1.8 (0.9) 3 3,238.8 (915) 3.8 (1.1) 5

Total 62,957.1 (9,992) 71.1 (10.9) 64,724.3 (6,320) 76.7 (7.5) Sarah % of A-H (SE) A-H/A (SE) total

April 721.9 (722) 1.3 (1.3) 3

May 6,638.3 (1,748) 11.6 (3.0) 23

June 7,843.1 (1,479) 13.7 (2.6) 28

July 4,405.2 (611) 7.7 (1.1) 15

August 5,054.9 (899) 8.8 (1.6) 18

September 2,600.9 (578) 4.5 (1.0) 9

October 1,141.8 (352) 2.0 (0.6) 4

Total 28,406.1 (2,720) 49.5 (4.7)

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Table 72. Types, amounts and percentages of non-fishing recreational use (in user- hours, u-h), 3 Hennepin County, Minnesota lakes, open-water season 2003. Categorical value sums might differ from totals because of rounding error.

Medicine Independence Sarah u-h/ u-h/ u-h/ u-h acre % u-h acre % u-h acre % Non-fishing motorboats 53,423 60.3 81 28,306 33.5 85 15,943 27.8 95 (1 SE) (6,259) (7.1) (4,048) (4.8) (2,235) (3.9) Non-motorized craft 10,229 11.5 15 3,170 3.7 9 501 0.9 3 (1 SE) (1,526) (1.7) (796) (0.4) (796) (0.2) Personal watercraft 2,178 2.5 4 1,911 2.5 6 367 0.6 2 (1 SE) (370) (0.4) (337) (0.4) (116) (0.2) Total non-fishing 65,830 74.3 33,388 39.6 16,811 29.3 Craft (1 SE) (6,453) (7.3) (4,139) (4.9) (2,243) (3.9) Values used to convert craft-hours to user-hours (directly or derived from Scott County creel surveys 1999: 3.09 people/motorboat, 1.25 people/personal watercraft, and 1.67 people/all non-motorized craft. Table 73. Comparisons of select water recreation use and fishing estimates from

1980 and 2003 surveys during open-water (>summer=) season, Medicine Lake. (u-h=user-hours; a-h=angler-hours; N/A-- not available) Sum or Estimate Survey Year 1980 2003 (1 SE) Survey Period (days) 127 214 Total Recreation Pressure (u-h) 58,596 128,787 Rec. Press. Density (u-h/acre) 66.1 145.4 Non-Fishing Rec. Pressure@ (u-h) 17,652 65,830 (6,453) Non-Fish. Press. Density(u-h/acre) 19.9 74.3 (7.3) Fishing-- % of All Recreation 70% 49% Fishing Pressure (a-h) 40,944 62,957 (9,992) Fishing Press. Density (a-h/acre) 46.2 71.1 (10.9) @ "active on-water craft"; those away from docking or storage, not battened or beached, with people on them or in close vicinity. Table 74. Comparisons of select water recreation use and fishing estimates from 1981, 1986, and 2003 surveys during open-water (>summer=) season, Lake Independence. (u-h=user-hours; a-h=angler-hours; N/A-- not available) Sum or Estimate Survey Year 1981 1986 2003 (1 SE) Survey Period (days) 127 126 214 Total Recreation Pressure (u-h) 65,584 43,802 98,111 Rec. Press. Density (u-h/acre) 77.7 51.9 116.2 Non-Fishing Rec. Pressure@ (u-h) 38,029 21,934 33,388 (4,139) Non-Fish. Press. Density(u-h/acre) 45.1 26.0 39.6 (4.9) Fishing-- % of All Recreation 42% 50% 66% Fishing Pressure (a-h) 27,555 21,868 64,724 (6,320) Fishing Press. Density (a-h/acre) 32.6 25.9 76.7 (7.5) @ "active on-water craft"; those away from docking or storage, not battened or beached, with people on them or in close vicinity.

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Table 75. Comparisons of select water recreation use and fishing estimates from 1981 and 2003 surveys during open-water (>summer=) season, Lake Sarah (u-h=user-hours; a-h=angler-hours; N/A-- not available). Sum or Estimate Survey Year 1981 2003 (1 SE) Survey Period (days) 127 214 Total Recreation Pressure (u-h) 49,894 45,217 Rec. Press. Density (u-h/acre) 86.9 78.8 Non-Fishing Rec. Pressure@ (u-h) 7,114 16,811 (2,243) Non-Fish. Press. Density(u-h/acre) 12.4 29.3 (3.9) Fishing-- % of All Recreation 86% 63% Fishing Pressure (a-h) 42,780 28,406 (2,720) Fishing Press. Density (a-h/acre) 74.5 49.5 (4.7) @ "active on-water craft"; those away from docking or storage, not battened or beached, with people on them or in close vicinity.

Table 76. Recreational water surface use, in user-hours, Medicine Lake, open-water season 2003. Values in parentheses represent 1 standard error. Some total value might differ from categorical sums because of rounding error.

Water Activity Type April May June July August September October Total

Fishing (angler-hr) 30,160 (9,193) 6,966 (1,848) 8,981 (1,403) 7,533 (1,574) 6,280 (844) 1,476 (498) 1,561 (779) 62,957 (9,992)

Non-fishing recreation (user-hr) 2,133 (1,251) 4,252 (1,769) 13,159 (3,498) 21,200 (5,921) 21,859 (3,225) 2,494 (1,298) 733 (573) 65,830 (6,453)

Total hrs 32,293 11,218 22,140 28,733 28,139 3,970 2,294 128,787

Fishing-- % of total 93 62 41 26 22 37 68 49

Fishing (angler-hr/acre) 34.0 (10.4) 7.9 (2.1) 10.1 (1.6) 8.5 (1.8) 7.1 (1.0) 1.7 (0.6) 1.8 (0.9) 71.1 (10.9)

Non-fishing rec.(user-hr/acre) 2.5 (1.4) 4.9 (2.0) 15.2 (4.0) 24.5 (6.7) 25.2 (3.6) 2.9 (1.5) 0.8 (0.6) 74.3 (7.3)

Total hrs/acre 36.4 12.7 25.0 32.4 31.8 4.5 2.6 145.4

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Table 77. Recreational water surface use, in user-hours, Lake Independence, open-water season 2003. Values in parentheses represent 1 standard error. Some total values might differ from categorical sums because of rounding error.


Fishing (angler-hr) 5,535 (1,364) 12,627 (3,631) 16,794 (4,077) 10,746 (2,054) 11,902 (1,612) 3,880 (790) 3,239 (915) 64,724 (6,320)

Non-fishing recreation (user-hr) 1,586 (823) 3,023 (1,060) 4,973 (2,234) 12,939 (2,476) 9,507 (1,977) 853 (481) 507 (268) 33,388 (4,139)

Total hrs 7,121 15,651 21,767 23,685 21,409 4,733 3,746 98,111

Fishing-- % of total 78 81 77 45 56 82 86 66



Total hrs/acre 8.4 18.5 25.8 28.1 25.4 5.6 4.4 116.2

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Table 78. Recreational water surface use, in user-hours, Lake Sarah, open-water season 2003. Values in parentheses represent 1 standard error. Some total values might differ from categorical sums because of rounding error.


Fishing (angler-hr) 723 (722) 6,638 (1,748) 7,843 (1,479) 4,405 (611) 5,055 (899) 2,601 (578) 1,142 (352) 28,406 (2,720)

Non-fishing recreation (user-hr) 128 (128) 1,488 (612) 3,680 (1,370) 4,996 (1,288) 4,442 (830) 1,610 (573) 467 (290) 16,811 (2,243)

Total hrs 849 8,126 11,523 9,402 9,497 4,210 1,609 45,217

Fishing-- % of total 85 82 68 47 53 62 71 63



Total hrs/acre 1.5 14.2 20.0 16.4 16.5 7.3 2.8 78.8

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Table 79. Harvest, release, and catch (harvested + released) numbers by fish species/type, plus percentage of caught fish that were harvested, Medicine Lake, open-water season 2003. SE = 1 standard error. (BLH=bullhead, BOF=bowfin, CRP=crappie, LMB=largemouth bass, NOP= northern pike, SUN=sunfish, WAE=walleye, YEP=yellow perch) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | Har per Rel per Cat per Spp | Harvest SE Acre SE Release SE Acre SE Catch SE Acre SE ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ BLH | 450.4 461.3 0.51 0.52 151.8 87.4 0.17 0.10 602.2 469.5 0.68 0.53 BOF | 0.0 0.0 0.00 0.00 332.5 195.2 0.38 0.22 332.5 195.2 0.38 0.22 CRP | 39800.6 17930.2 44.92 20.24 8812.8 2581.7 9.95 2.91 48613.4 19780.5 54.87 22.33 LMB | 829.5 315.0 0.94 0.36 9289.7 1477.1 10.48 1.67 10119.2 1603.1 11.42 1.81 NOP | 379.0 124.4 0.43 0.14 3532.3 618.3 3.99 0.70 3911.3 647.4 4.41 0.73 SUN | 15000.7 3384.0 16.93 3.82 38978.6 8169.4 43.99 9.22 53979.3 10390.3 60.92 11.73 WAE | 38.4 30.9 0.04 0.03 105.7 52.1 0.12 0.06 144.0 72.6 0.16 0.08 YEP | 30.7 22.7 0.03 0.03 1412.8 394.1 1.59 0.44 1443.5 401.1 1.63 0.45 ALL | 56529.2 18255.7 63.80 20.60 62616.2 8727.7 70.67 9.85 119145.4 22419.6 134.48 25.30 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Table 80. Harvest, release, and catch (harvested + released) numbers by fish species/type, plus percentage of caught fish that were harvested, Lake Independence, open-water season 2003. SE = 1 standard error. (BOF=bowfin, CAP=carp, CRP=crappie, LMB=largemouth bass, MUE=muskie, NOP=northern pike, SUN=sunfish, WAE=walleye, YEP=yellow perch) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | Har per Rel per Cat per Spp | Harvest SE Acre SE Release SE Acre SE Catch SE Acre SE ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ BOF | 0.0 0.0 0.00 0.00 167.1 67.1 0.20 0.08 167.1 67.1 0.20 0.08 CAP | 0.0 0.0 0.00 0.00 161.5 121.0 0.19 0.14 161.5 121.0 0.19 0.14 CRP | 17076.9 3964.5 20.23 4.70 28866.3 6410.1 34.20 7.59 45943.2 9715.7 54.44 11.51 LMB | 793.5 236.5 0.94 0.28 9863.8 1680.0 11.69 1.99 10657.3 1743.3 12.63 2.07 MUE | 0.0 0.0 0.00 0.00 888.0 156.3 1.05 0.19 888.0 156.3 1.05 0.19 NOP | 156.8 59.9 0.19 0.07 2585.8 542.8 3.06 0.64 2742.6 556.0 3.25 0.66 SUN | 11548.1 2705.9 13.68 3.21 29696.9 5816.7 35.19 6.89 41245.0 8024.2 48.87 9.51 WAE | 549.3 233.8 0.65 0.28 966.8 494.7 1.15 0.59 1516.0 576.3 1.80 0.68 YEP | 33.8 35.4 0.04 0.04 1778.5 484.6 2.11 0.57 1812.3 487.3 2.15 0.58 ALL | 30158.4 4811.9 35.73 5.70 74974.7 8863.6 88.83 10.50 105133.1 12757.1 124.57 15.12 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Table 81. Harvest, release, and catch (harvested + released) numbers by fish species/type, plus percentage of caught fish that were harvested, Lake Sarah, open-water season 2003. SE = 1 standard error. (BLH= bullhead, BOF=bowfin, CAP=carp, CRP=crappie, LMB=largemouth bass, NOP=northern pike, SUN=sunfish, WAE=walleye, YEP=yellow perch) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | Har per Rel per Cat per Spp | Harvest SE Acre SE Release SE Acre SE Catch SE Acre SE ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ BLH| 0.0 0.0 0.00 0.00 65.3 38.6 0.11 0.07 65.3 38.6 0.11 0.07 BOF| 0.0 0.0 0.00 0.00 88.6 40.7 0.15 0.07 88.6 40.7 0.15 0.07 CRP| 5177.6 1502.2 9.02 2.62 6082.0 1500.8 10.60 2.61 11259.6 2760.1 19.62 4.81 LMB| 1519.7 415.5 2.65 0.72 14345.3 2028.8 24.99 3.53 15865.0 2114.5 27.64 3.68 NOP| 160.1 51.9 0.28 0.09 621.4 148.2 1.08 0.26 781.5 154.8 1.36 0.27 SUN| 26772.0 5473.2 46.64 9.54 51176.4 9465.0 89.16 16.49 77948.4 14415.0 135.80 25.11 WAE| 0.0 0.0 0.00 0.00 6.3 6.1 0.01 0.01 6.3 6.1 0.01 0.01 YEP| 24.5 26.2 0.04 0.05 220.3 55.2 0.38 0.10 244.9 61.1 0.43 0.11 ALL| 33653.9 5695.9 58.63 9.92 72605.7 9986.2 126.49 17.40 106259.6 14976.0 185.12 26.09 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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Table 82. Overall harvest, release, and catch rates (number fish per angler- hour), Medicine Lake, open-water season 2003. SE = 1 standard error. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Har/ Rel/ Cat/ AnHr SE AnHr SE AnHr SE ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bullhead 0.0081 0.0084 0.0027 0.0013 0.0109 0.0084 Bowfin 0.0000 0.0000 0.0060 0.0037 0.0060 0.0037 Crappie 0.7173 0.2820 0.1588 0.0550 0.8762 0.3185 Largemouth bass 0.0149 0.0064 0.1674 0.0379 0.1824 0.0416 Northern pike 0.0068 0.0025 0.0637 0.0132 0.0705 0.0143 Sunfish 0.2704 0.0720 0.7025 0.1997 0.9729 0.2560 Walleye 0.0007 0.0005 0.0019 0.0010 0.0026 0.0012 Yellow perch 0.0006 0.0004 0.0255 0.0079 0.0260 0.0080 All fishes 1.0188 0.2913 1.1285 0.2111 2.1474 0.4112 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Table 83. Sought harvest, release, and catch rates (number fish per angler- hour for those targeting specific fish[es]), Medicine Lake, open-water season 2003. SE = 1 standard error. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Har/ Rel/ Cat/ | | AnHr SE AnHr SE AnHr SE | Number of seekers ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Crappie | 0.4462 0.1612 0.2938 0.0632 0.7401 0.1813| 134 Largemouth bass | 0.2227 0.0163 0.6303 0.0999 0.8530 0.1057| 121 Northern pike | 0.0391 0.0143 0.2912 0.0563 0.3302 0.0576| 91 Sunfish | 1.3434 0.1547 1.9023 0.2185 3.2458 0.3265| 140 Walleye | 0.0000 --- 0.0000 --- 0.0000 --- | 1 Yellow perch | 0.0575 0.0135 0.0974 0.0905 0.1549 0.1000| 18 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Table 84. Overall harvest, release, and catch rates (number fish per angler- hour), Lake Independence, open-water season 2003. SE = 1 standard error. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Har/ Rel/ Cat/ AnHr SE AnHr SE AnHr SE ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bowfin 0.0000 0.0000 0.0026 0.0011 0.0026 0.0011 Carp 0.0000 0.0000 0.0025 0.0019 0.0025 0.0019 Crappie 0.2638 0.0445 0.4460 0.0967 0.7098 0.1305 Largemouth bass 0.0123 0.0032 0.1524 0.0327 0.1647 0.0334 Muskellunge 0.0000 0.0000 0.0137 0.0016 0.0137 0.0016 Northern pike 0.0024 0.0010 0.0400 0.0086 0.0424 0.0089 Sunfish 0.1784 0.0261 0.4588 0.0732 0.6372 0.0882 Walleye 0.0085 0.0035 0.0149 0.0079 0.0234 0.0092 Yellow perch 0.0005 0.0005 0.0275 0.0084 0.0280 0.0084 All fishes 0.4660 0.0518 1.1584 0.1264 1.6243 0.1617 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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Table 85. Sought harvest, release, and catch rates (number fish per angler- hour for those targeting specific fish[es]), Lake Independence, open-water season 2003. SE = 1 standard error. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Har/ Rel/ Cat/ | | AnHr SE AnHr SE AnHr SE | Number of seekers ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Carp 0.0000 --- 0.0000 --- 0.0000 --- | 1 Crappie 0.5916 0.1511 1.2439 0.3066 1.8355 0.4312| 120 Largemouth bass 0.0289 0.0131 0.3045 0.0965 0.3335 0.1000| 80 Muskellunge 0.0000 0.0000 0.0436 0.0122 0.0436 0.0122| 192 Northern pike 0.0230 0.0084 0.1197 0.0454 0.1427 0.0457| 52 Sunfish 0.4877 0.1145 1.4707 1.8923 1.9584 0.3332| 93 Walleye 0.0707 0.0276 0.0415 0.1452 0.1122 0.0571| 90 Yellow perch 0.0000 0.0000 0.0184 0.0305 0.0184 0.0175| 16 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Table 86. Overall harvest, release, and catch rates (number fish per angler- hour), Lake Sarah, open-water season 2003. SE = 1 standard error. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Har/ Rel/ Cat/ AnHr SE AnHr SE AnHr SE ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bullhead 0.0000 0.0000 0.0023 0.0041 0.0023 0.0041 Bowfin 0.0000 0.0000 0.0031 0.0012 0.0031 0.0015 Crappie 0.1823 0.0330 0.2141 0.0197 0.3964 0.0452 Largemouth bass 0.0535 0.0136 0.5050 0.0352 0.5585 0.0309 Northern pike 0.0056 0.0024 0.0219 0.0048 0.0275 0.0060 Sunfish 0.9425 0.1020 1.8016 0.1106 2.7441 0.1946 Walleye 0.0000 0.0000 0.0002 0.0002 0.0002 0.0002 Yellow perch 0.0009 0.0009 0.0078 0.0017 0.0086 0.0019 All fishes 1.1847 0.1075 2.5560 0.1254 3.7407 0.2064 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Table 87. Sought harvest, release, and catch rates (number fish per angler- hour for those targeting specific fish[es]), Lake Sarah, open-water season 2003. SE = 1 standard error. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Har/ Rel/ Cat/ | | AnHr SE AnHr SE AnHr SE | Number of seekers ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Crappie 0.4043 0.0777 0.4553 0.0623 0.8597 0.1209| 134 Largemouth bass 0.0609 0.0239 1.1998 0.1082 1.2607 0.0988| 130 Northern pike 0.1185 0.0147 0.1353 0.0407 0.2538 0.0415| 38 Sunfish 1.9979 0.2300 4.2338 0.3547 6.2317 0.5413| 152 Yellow perch 0.0000 0.0000 0.0504 0.0270 0.0504 0.0270| 16 Table 88. Yield, in pounds (lb) and pounds per acre (lb/acre), and percent of total represented, Medicine Lake, open-water season 2003. SE = 1 standard error. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Harvest pounds % of Spp | Lbs SE per Acre SE total -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bullhead | 225.2 235.0 0.25 0.27 1 Crappie | 11037.6 5006.6 12.46 5.65 64 Largemouth bass | 1270.3 732.7 1.43 0.83 7 Northern pike | 1147.9 368.4 1.30 0.42 7 Sunfish | 3438.2 1281.3 3.88 1.45 20 Walleye | 122.4 99.9 0.14 0.11 1 Yellow perch | 3.6 2.6 <0.01 <0.01 <1 Total | 17245.3 5400.7 19.46 6.10

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Table 89. Yield, in pounds (lb) and pounds per acre (lb/acre), and percent of total represented, Lake Independence, open-water season 2003. SE = 1 standard error. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Harvest pounds % of Spp | Lbs SE per Acre SE total -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Crappie | 6006.2 2869.3 7.12 3.40 52 Largemouth bass | 1482.4 499.9 1.76 0.59 13 Northern pike | 529.7 241.0 0.63 0.29 5 Sunfish | 2528.6 790.7 3.00 0.94 22 Walleye | 970.7 467.4 1.15 0.55 8 Yellow perch | 4.1 4.3 0.00 0.01 <1 ALL | 11521.6 3063.4 13.65 3.63 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Table 90. Yield, in pounds (lb) and pounds per acre (lb/acre), and percent of total represented, Lake Sarah, open-water season 2003. SE = 1 standard error. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Harvest pounds % of Spp | Lbs SE per Acre SE total -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Crappie | 2815.5 1422.7 4.91 2.48 16 Largemouth bass | 3647.5 1538.5 6.35 2.68 21 Northern pike | 1275.5 864.2 2.22 1.51 7 Sunfish | 9778.2 2302.7 17.04 4.01 56 Yellow perch | 6.5 6.5 0.01 0.01 <1 ALL | 17523.1 3231.1 30.53 5.63 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Table 91. Mean length (in inches) of fish harvested and released by anglers, Medicine Lake, Minnesota, open-water season 2003. SE = 1 standard error. (BLH=bullhead, BOF=bowfin, CRP=crappie, LMB=largemouth bass, NOP=northern pike, SUN=sunfish, WAE=walleye, YEP=yellow perch) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Targeting Anglers | All Anglers |-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Har Rel Cat | Har Rel Cat | AvLn SE AvLn SE AvLn SE | AvLn SE AvLn SE AvLn SE -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BLH | --- --- --- --- --- --- | 9.70 13.92 11.70 9.34 9.70 6.91 BOF | --- --- --- --- --- --- | --- --- 20.00 11.94 20.00 11.94 CRP | 7.58 2.22 --- --- 7.58 2.22 | 7.75 12.49 6.40 2.41 7.75 10.48 LMB | 14.33 3.94 13.98 3.06 14.02 2.82 | 13.09 11.05 13.68 5.78 13.60 5.29 NOP | 23.55 4.14 21.62 4.24 21.98 3.48 | 23.49 13.68 20.78 9.06 21.18 8.33 SUN | 6.90 1.41 8.75 --- 6.93 1.41 | 6.90 2.45 8.75 2.54 6.93 2.42 WAE | --- --- --- --- --- --- | 20.25 22.37 15.00 61.72 17.63 23.61 YEP | 6.00 --- --- --- 6.00 --- | 6.00 6.03 6.00 2.72 6.00 2.75 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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Table 92. Mean weight (in pounds) of fish harvested and released by anglers, Medicine Lake, Minnesota, open-water season 2003. SE = 1 standard error. (BLH=bullhead, BOF=bowfin, CRP=crappie, LMB=largemouth bass, NOP=northern pike, SUN=sunfish, WAE=walleye, YEP=yellow perch) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Targeting Anglers | All Anglers |-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Har Rel Cat | Har Rel Cat Spp | AvWt SE AvWt SE AvWt SE | AvWt SE AvWt SE AvWt SE -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BLH | --- --- --- --- --- --- | 0.50 0.72 0.98 0.79 0.50 0.37 BOF | --- --- --- --- --- --- | --- --- 2.65 1.61 2.65 1.61 CRP | 0.26 0.08 --- --- 0.26 0.08 | 0.28 0.44 0.12 0.05 0.28 0.37 LMB | 1.61 0.42 1.69 0.43 1.69 0.39 | 1.31 1.12 1.62 0.72 1.58 0.65 NOP | 3.04 0.52 3.01 0.65 3.02 0.53 | 2.99 1.69 2.68 1.23 2.73 1.11 SUN | 0.26 0.06 0.52 --- 0.26 0.06 | 0.26 0.09 0.52 0.15 0.26 0.09 WAE | --- --- --- --- --- --- | 3.13 4.00 1.89 10.97 2.51 4.30 YEP | 0.09 --- --- --- 0.09 --- | 0.09 0.09 0.09 0.04 0.09 0.04 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Table 93. Mean length (in inches) of fish harvested and released by anglers, Lake Independence, Minnesota, open-water season 2003. SE = 1 standard error. (BOF=bowfin, CAP=carp, CRP=crappie, LMB=largemouth bass, MUE=muskellunge, NOP=northern pike, SUN=sunfish, WAE=walleye, YEP=yellow perch) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Targeting Anglers | All Anglers |-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Har Rel Cat | Har Rel Cat | AvLn SE AvLn SE AvLn SE | AvLn SE AvLn SE AvLn SE -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BOF | --- --- --- --- --- --- | --- --- 24.00 11.66 24.00 11.66 CAP | --- --- --- --- --- --- | --- --- 25.60 29.14 25.60 29.14 CRP | 8.56 2.33 9.00 --- 8.56 2.34 | 8.42 4.42 8.33 2.32 8.42 3.79 LMB | 16.46 4.80 14.56 2.16 14.70 2.13 | 11.79 16.59 13.55 4.69 13.28 4.92 MUE | --- --- 35.98 5.28 35.98 5.28 | --- --- 35.48 14.87 35.48 14.88 NOP | 24.08 1.06 20.58 4.94 21.10 4.29 | 24.29 14.78 21.32 8.88 21.52 8.54 SUN | 7.06 2.80 --- --- 7.06 2.80 | 7.06 3.82 4.90 1.36 7.06 3.24 WAE | 14.82 4.47 16.30 5.93 15.06 3.98 | 14.82 14.11 14.06 12.52 14.55 9.43 YEP | --- --- --- --- --- --- | 6.75 9.68 7.25 2.59 7.00 2.48 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Table 94. Mean weight (in pounds) of fish harvested and released by anglers, Lake Independence, Minnesota, open-water season 2003. SE = 1 standard error. (BOF=bowfin, CAP=carp, CRP=crappie, LMB=largemouth bass, MUE= muskellunge, NOP=northern pike, SUN=sunfish, WAE=walleye, YEP=yellow perch) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BOF | --- --- --- --- --- --- | --- --- 4.36 2.15 4.36 2.15 CAP | --- --- --- --- --- --- | --- --- 8.30 9.50 8.30 9.50 CRP | 0.36 0.10 0.53 --- 0.36 0.10 | 0.34 0.18 0.34 0.25 0.34 0.16 LMB | 2.73 0.83 1.89 0.27 1.95 0.28 | 1.28 0.89 1.64 0.56 1.59 0.55 MUE | --- --- 12.14 2.06 12.14 2.06 | --- --- 11.87 5.23 11.87 5.23 NOP | 3.18 0.58 2.37 0.73 2.49 0.62 | 3.26 2.58 2.69 1.08 2.73 1.05 SUN | 0.26 0.10 --- --- 0.26 0.10 | 0.26 0.14 0.10 0.03 0.26 0.12 WAE | 1.20 0.33 1.79 1.11 1.29 0.32 | 1.19 1.01 1.20 1.16 1.20 0.76 YEP | --- --- --- --- --- --- | 0.12 0.17 0.16 0.06 0.14 0.05 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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Table 95. Mean length (in inches) of fish harvested and released by anglers, Lake Sarah, Minnesota, open-water season 2003. SE = 1 standard error. (BLH=bullhead, BOF=bowfin, CRP=crappie, LMB=largemouth bass, NOP=northern pike, SUN=sunfish, WAE=walleye, YEP=yellow perch) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Targeting Anglers | All Anglers |-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Har Rel Cat | Har Rel Cat Spp | AvLn SE AvLn SE AvLn SE | AvLn SE AvLn SE AvLn SE -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BLH | --- --- --- --- --- --- | --- --- 13.20 9.78 13.20 9.78 BOF | --- --- --- --- --- --- | --- --- 26.80 13.84 26.80 13.84 CRP | 8.92 2.04 --- --- 8.92 2.04 | 9.00 5.13 6.80 2.08 9.00 4.65 LMB | 14.70 3.24 14.26 2.75 14.32 2.46 | 14.46 6.85 14.10 4.64 14.16 4.21 NOP | 27.50 5.55 22.81 6.04 24.77 4.98 | 26.12 18.62 24.15 11.97 24.73 9.87 SUN | 7.19 1.21 --- --- 7.19 1.21 | 7.17 1.99 4.20 0.93 7.17 1.86 WAE | --- --- --- --- --- --- | --- --- 10.00 13.95 10.00 13.96 YEP | --- --- --- --- --- --- | 7.40 10.54 6.30 2.60 7.00 2.77 Table 96. Mean weight (in pounds) of fish harvested and released by anglers, Lake Sarah, Minnesota, open-water season 2003. SE = 1 standard error. (BLH=bullhead, BOF=bowfin, CRP=crappie, LMB=largemouth bass, NOP=northern pike, SUN=sunfish, WAE=walleye, YEP=yellow perch) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Targeting Anglers | All Anglers |-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Har Rel Cat | Har Rel Cat Spp | AvWt SE AvWt SE AvWt SE | AvWt SE AvWt SE AvWt SE -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BLH | --- --- --- --- --- --- | --- --- 1.33 0.99 1.33 0.99 BOF | --- --- --- --- --- --- | --- --- 7.00 3.63 7.00 3.63 CRP | 0.41 0.09 --- --- 0.41 0.09 | 0.42 0.23 0.17 0.05 0.42 0.21 LMB | 1.97 0.41 1.77 0.37 1.79 0.33 | 1.87 0.91 1.72 0.60 1.74 0.54 NOP | 5.07 1.32 2.92 0.92 3.82 0.83 | 4.42 3.32 3.59 1.62 3.83 1.46 SUN | 0.30 0.05 --- --- 0.30 0.05 | 0.29 0.08 0.08 0.02 0.29 0.08 WAE | --- --- --- --- --- --- | --- --- 0.28 0.39 0.28 0.44 YEP | --- --- --- --- --- --- | 0.18 0.26 0.11 0.05 0.16 0.06

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Table 97. Length-frequency distributions of harvested fish, Medicine Lake, open-water season 2003. (BLH=bullhead, CRP=crappie, LMB= largemouth bass, NOP=northern pike, SUN=sunfish, WAE=walleye, YEP=yellow perch) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Length Category BLH CRP LMB NOP SUN WAE YEP [0.0, 3.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- --- [3.0, 3.5) --- --- --- --- --- --- --- [3.5, 4.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- --- [4.0, 4.5) --- --- --- --- --- --- --- [4.5, 5.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- --- [5.0, 5.5) --- --- --- --- --- --- --- [5.5, 6.0) --- --- --- --- 1 --- --- [6.0, 6.5) --- 2 --- --- 13 --- 1 [6.5, 7.0) --- 1 --- --- 45 --- --- [7.0, 7.5) --- 43 --- --- 58 --- --- [7.5, 8.0) --- 62 --- --- 17 --- --- [8.0, 8.5) --- 24 --- --- 2 --- --- [8.5, 9.0) --- 6 1 --- --- --- --- [9.0, 9.5) --- 16 3 --- --- --- --- [9.5, 10.0) 3 --- 2 --- --- --- --- [10.0, 10.5) --- --- --- --- --- --- --- [10.5, 11.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- --- [11.0, 11.5) --- --- 1 --- --- --- --- [11.5, 12.0) --- --- 1 --- --- --- --- [12.0, 13.0) --- --- 3 --- --- --- --- [13.0, 14.0) --- --- 7 --- --- --- --- [14.0, 15.0) --- 1 7 --- --- --- --- [15.0, 16.0) --- --- 3 --- --- --- --- [16.0, 17.0) --- --- 1 --- --- --- --- [17.0, 18.0) --- --- 1 --- --- --- --- [18.0, 19.0) --- --- 1 1 --- --- --- [19.0, 20.0) --- --- --- 1 --- --- --- [20.0, 21.0) --- --- --- 3 --- 2 --- [21.0, 22.0) --- --- --- 1 --- --- --- [22.0, 23.0) --- --- --- 4 --- --- --- [23.0, 24.0) --- --- --- 2 --- --- --- [24.0, 25.0) --- --- --- 2 --- --- --- [25.0, 26.0) --- --- --- 3 --- --- --- [26.0, 27.0) --- --- --- 1 --- --- --- [27.0, 28.0) --- --- --- 1 --- --- --- [28.0, 29.0) --- --- --- 3 --- --- --- [29.0, 30.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- --- [30.0, 31.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- --- [31.0, 32.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- --- [32.0, 33.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- --- [33.0, 34.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- --- [34.0, 35.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- --- [35.0, 36.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- --- [36.0, 37.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- --- [37.0, 38.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- --- [38.0, 39.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- --- [39.0, 40.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- --- [40.0, and up) --- --- --- --- --- --- --- Total 3 155 31 22 136 2 1 Min. Length 9.70 6.00 8.50 18.50 5.75 20.00 6.00 Max. Length 9.70 14.00 18.50 28.50 8.25 20.50 6.00 Mean Length 9.70 7.75 13.09 23.49 6.90 20.25 6.00

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Table 98. Length-frequency distributions of released fish, Medicine Lake, open-water season 2003. (BOF=bowfin, LMB=largemouth bass, NOP=northern pike, SUN=sunfish, WAE=walleye) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Length Category BOF LMB NOP SUN WAE [0.0, 3.0) --- --- --- --- --- [3.0, 3.5) --- --- --- --- --- [3.5, 4.0) --- --- --- --- --- [4.0, 4.5) --- --- --- --- --- [4.5, 5.0) --- --- --- --- --- [5.0, 5.5) --- 1 --- --- --- [5.5, 6.0) --- --- --- --- --- [6.0, 6.5) --- --- --- --- --- [6.5, 7.0) --- --- --- --- --- [7.0, 7.5) --- --- --- --- --- [7.5, 8.0) --- --- --- 1 --- [8.0, 8.5) --- 8 --- --- 1 [8.5, 9.0) --- --- --- --- --- [9.0, 9.5) --- 1 --- --- --- [9.5, 10.0) --- --- --- --- --- [10.0, 10.5) --- 42 --- 1 --- [10.5, 11.0) --- --- --- --- --- [11.0, 11.5) --- --- --- --- --- [11.5, 12.0) --- --- --- --- --- [12.0, 13.0) --- 27 17 --- --- [13.0, 14.0) --- 12 2 --- --- [14.0, 15.0) --- 24 3 --- --- [15.0, 16.0) --- 35 7 --- --- [16.0, 17.0) --- 14 9 --- --- [17.0, 18.0) --- 10 4 --- --- [18.0, 19.0) --- 12 16 --- --- [19.0, 20.0) --- 5 9 --- --- [20.0, 21.0) 1 3 5 --- --- [21.0, 22.0) --- 1 8 --- --- [22.0, 23.0) --- --- 3 --- 1 [23.0, 24.0) --- 1 5 --- --- [24.0, 25.0) --- --- 9 --- --- [25.0, 26.0) --- --- 3 --- --- [26.0, 27.0) --- --- 3 --- --- [27.0, 28.0) --- --- 3 --- --- [28.0, 29.0) --- --- 4 --- --- [29.0, 30.0) --- --- 1 --- --- [30.0, 31.0) --- --- 1 --- --- [31.0, 32.0) --- --- 2 --- --- [32.0, 33.0) --- --- 1 --- --- [33.0, 34.0) --- --- 5 --- --- [34.0, 35.0) --- --- 2 --- --- [35.0, 36.0) --- --- --- --- --- [36.0, 37.0) --- --- 4 --- --- [37.0, 38.0) --- --- 1 --- --- [38.0, 39.0) --- --- --- --- --- [39.0, 40.0) --- --- --- --- --- [40.0, and up) --- --- --- --- --- Total 1 196 127 2 2 Min. Length 20.00 5.00 12.00 7.50 8.00 Max. Length 20.00 23.00 37.00 10.00 22.00 Mean Length 20.00 13.68 20.78 8.75 15.00

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Table 99. Length-frequency distributions of harvested and released fish, Medicine Lake, open-water season 2003. (BLH=black bullhead, BOF=bowfin, CRP=crappie, LMB=largemouth bass, NOP=northern pike, SUN=sunfish, WAE= walleye, YEP=yellow perch) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Length Category BLH BOF CRP LMB NOP SUN WAE YEP [0.0, 3.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- [3.0, 3.5) --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- [3.5, 4.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- [4.0, 4.5) --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- [4.5, 5.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- [5.0, 5.5) --- --- --- 1 --- --- --- --- [5.5, 6.0) --- --- --- --- --- 1 --- --- [6.0, 6.5) --- --- 2 --- --- 13 --- 1 [6.5, 7.0) --- --- 1 --- --- 45 --- --- [7.0, 7.5) --- --- 43 --- --- 58 --- --- [7.5, 8.0) --- --- 62 --- --- 18 --- --- [8.0, 8.5) --- --- 24 8 --- 2 1 --- [8.5, 9.0) --- --- 6 1 --- --- --- --- [9.0, 9.5) --- --- 16 4 --- --- --- --- [9.5, 10.0) 3 --- --- 2 --- --- --- --- [10.0, 10.5) --- --- --- 42 --- 1 --- --- [10.5, 11.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- [11.0, 11.5) --- --- --- 1 --- --- --- --- [11.5, 12.0) --- --- --- 1 --- --- --- --- [12.0, 13.0) --- --- --- 30 17 --- --- --- [13.0, 14.0) --- --- --- 19 2 --- --- --- [14.0, 15.0) --- --- 1 31 3 --- --- --- [15.0, 16.0) --- --- --- 38 7 --- --- --- [16.0, 17.0) --- --- --- 15 9 --- --- --- [17.0, 18.0) --- --- --- 11 4 --- --- --- [18.0, 19.0) --- --- --- 13 17 --- --- --- [19.0, 20.0) --- --- --- 5 10 --- --- --- [20.0, 21.0) --- 1 --- 3 8 --- 2 --- [21.0, 22.0) --- --- --- 1 9 --- --- --- [22.0, 23.0) --- --- --- --- 7 --- 1 --- [23.0, 24.0) --- --- --- 1 7 --- --- --- [24.0, 25.0) --- --- --- --- 11 --- --- --- [25.0, 26.0) --- --- --- --- 6 --- --- --- [26.0, 27.0) --- --- --- --- 4 --- --- --- [27.0, 28.0) --- --- --- --- 4 --- --- --- [28.0, 29.0) --- --- --- --- 7 --- --- --- [29.0, 30.0) --- --- --- --- 1 --- --- --- [30.0, 31.0) --- --- --- --- 1 --- --- --- [31.0, 32.0) --- --- --- --- 2 --- --- --- [32.0, 33.0) --- --- --- --- 1 --- --- --- [33.0, 34.0) --- --- --- --- 5 --- --- --- [34.0, 35.0) --- --- --- --- 2 --- --- --- [35.0, 36.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- [36.0, 37.0) --- --- --- --- 4 --- --- --- [37.0, 38.0) --- --- --- --- 1 --- --- --- [38.0, 39.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- [39.0, 40.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- [40.0, and up) --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- Total 3 1 155 227 149 138 4 1 Min. Length 9.70 20.00 6.00 5.00 12.00 5.75 8.00 6.00 Max. Length 9.70 20.00 14.00 23.00 37.00 10.00 22.00 6.00 Mean Length 9.70 20.00 7.75 13.60 21.18 6.93 17.63 6.00

Table 100. Length-frequency distributions of harvested fish, Lake Independence, open-water season 2003. (CRP=crappie, LMB= largemouth bass, NOP= northern pike, SUN=sunfish, WAE=walleye, YEP=yellow perch) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Length Category CRP LMB NOP SUN WAE YEP [0.0, 4.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- [4.0, 4.5) --- --- --- --- --- --- [4.5, 5.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- [5.0, 5.5) --- --- --- --- --- --- [5.5, 6.0) --- --- --- 2 --- --- [6.0, 6.5) --- --- --- 6 --- --- [6.5, 7.0) 2 --- --- 19 --- 1 [7.0, 7.5) 10 --- --- 32 --- --- [7.5, 8.0) 24 --- --- 23 --- --- [8.0, 8.5) 41 3 --- 1 --- --- [8.5, 9.0) 43 1 --- --- --- --- [9.0, 9.5) 40 1 --- --- --- --- [9.5, 10.0) 7 2 --- --- --- --- [10.0, 10.5) --- 4 --- --- --- --- [10.5, 11.0) --- 4 --- --- --- --- [11.0, 11.5) 1 1 --- --- --- --- [11.5, 12.0) --- --- --- --- 1 --- [12.0, 13.0) --- --- --- --- 3 --- [13.0, 14.0) --- --- --- --- 5 --- [14.0, 15.0) --- --- --- --- 10 --- [15.0, 16.0) --- --- --- --- 2 --- [16.0, 17.0) --- 4 --- --- 1 --- [17.0, 18.0) --- 2 --- --- 1 --- [18.0, 19.0) --- 1 --- --- 2 --- [19.0, 20.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- [20.0, 21.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- [21.0, 22.0) --- --- 2 --- --- --- [22.0, 23.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- [23.0, 24.0) --- --- 1 --- --- --- [24.0, 25.0) --- --- --- --- 1 --- [25.0, 26.0) --- --- 2 --- --- --- [26.0, 27.0) --- --- 1 --- --- --- [27.0, 28.0) --- --- 1 --- --- --- [28.0, 29.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- [29.0, 30.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- [30.0, 31.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- [31.0, 32.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- [32.0, 33.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- [33.0, 34.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- [34.0, 35.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- [35.0, 36.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- [36.0, 37.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- [37.0, 38.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- [38.0, 39.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- [39.0, 40.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- [40.0, and up) --- --- --- --- --- --- Total 168 23 7 83 26 1 Min. Length 6.75 8.00 21.00 5.50 11.50 6.75 Max. Length 11.25 18.00 27.00 8.00 24.50 6.75 Mean Length 8.42 11.79 24.29 7.06 14.82 6.75

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Table 101. Length-frequency distributions of released fish, Lake Independence, open-water season 2003. (BOF=bowfin, CRP= crappie, LMB=largemouth bass, MUE=muskellunge, NOP=northern pike, SUN=sunfish, WAE=walleye, YEP=yellow perch) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Length Category BOF CRP LMB MUE NOP WAE YEP [0.0, 5.0) --- --- 1 --- --- --- --- [5.0, 5.5) --- --- --- --- --- --- --- [5.5, 6.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- --- [6.0, 6.5) --- --- 10 --- --- --- --- [6.5, 7.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- --- [7.0, 7.5) --- --- 1 --- --- --- 1 [7.5, 8.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- --- [8.0, 8.5) --- 2 6 --- --- 3 --- [8.5, 9.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- --- [9.0, 9.5) --- 1 --- --- --- --- --- [9.5, 10.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- --- [10.0, 10.5) --- --- 6 --- --- 2 --- [10.5, 11.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- --- [11.0, 11.5) --- --- 2 --- --- --- --- [11.5, 12.0) --- --- --- --- --- 1 --- [12.0, 13.0) --- --- 18 1 5 --- --- [13.0, 14.0) --- --- 10 --- 3 --- --- [14.0, 15.0) --- --- 15 --- 1 1 --- [15.0, 16.0) --- --- 22 --- 1 2 --- [16.0, 17.0) --- --- 11 --- 12 --- --- [17.0, 18.0) --- --- 8 --- 5 --- --- [18.0, 19.0) --- --- 10 --- 10 2 --- [19.0, 20.0) --- --- 2 --- 4 1 --- [20.0, 21.0) --- --- 2 3 11 --- --- [21.0, 22.0) --- --- 1 --- 9 2 --- [22.0, 23.0) --- --- --- --- 4 --- --- [23.0, 24.0) --- --- --- --- 2 --- --- [24.0, 25.0) 1 --- --- --- 7 --- --- [25.0, 26.0) --- --- --- --- 2 --- --- [26.0, 27.0) --- --- --- --- 3 --- --- [27.0, 28.0) --- --- --- 1 2 --- --- [28.0, 29.0) --- --- --- 1 6 --- --- [29.0, 30.0) --- --- --- 2 1 --- --- [30.0, 31.0) --- --- --- 1 4 --- --- [31.0, 32.0) --- --- --- 3 1 --- --- [32.0, 33.0) --- --- --- 1 1 --- --- [33.0, 34.0) --- --- --- 1 1 --- --- [34.0, 35.0) --- --- --- 3 3 --- --- [35.0, 36.0) --- --- --- 7 1 --- --- [36.0, 37.0) --- --- --- 4 --- --- --- [37.0, 38.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- --- [38.0, 39.0) --- --- --- 6 --- --- --- [39.0, 40.0) --- --- --- 6 --- --- --- [40.0, and up) --- --- --- 15 --- --- --- Total 1 3 125 55 99 14 1 Min. Length 24.00 8.00 4.00 12.00 12.00 8.00 7.25 Max. Length 24.00 9.00 21.00 47.00 35.00 21.00 7.25 Mean Length 24.00 8.33 13.55 35.48 21.32 14.06 7.25

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Table 102. Length-frequency distributions of harvested and released fish, Lake Independence, open-water season 2003. (BOF=bowfin, CRP=crappie, LMB=largemouth bass, MUE=muskellunge, NOP= northern pike, SUN=sunfish, WAE=walleye, YEP=yellow perch) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Length Category BOF CRP LMB MUE NOP SUN WAE YEP [0.0, 4.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- [4.0, 4.5) --- --- 1 --- --- --- --- --- [4.5, 5.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- [5.0, 5.5) --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- [5.5, 6.0) --- --- --- --- --- 2 --- --- [6.0, 6.5) --- --- 10 --- --- 6 --- --- [6.5, 7.0) --- 2 --- --- --- 19 --- 1 [7.0, 7.5) --- 10 1 --- --- 32 --- 1 [7.5, 8.0) --- 24 --- --- --- 23 --- --- [8.0, 8.5) --- 43 9 --- --- 1 3 --- [8.5, 9.0) --- 43 1 --- --- --- --- --- [9.0, 9.5) --- 41 1 --- --- --- --- --- [9.5, 10.0) --- 7 2 --- --- --- --- --- [10.0, 10.5) --- --- 10 --- --- --- 2 --- [10.5, 11.0) --- --- 4 --- --- --- --- --- [11.0, 11.5) --- 1 3 --- --- --- --- --- [11.5, 12.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- 2 --- [12.0, 13.0) --- --- 18 1 5 --- 3 --- [13.0, 14.0) --- --- 10 --- 3 --- 5 --- [14.0, 15.0) --- --- 15 --- 1 --- 11 --- [15.0, 16.0) --- --- 22 --- 1 --- 4 --- [16.0, 17.0) --- --- 15 --- 12 --- 1 --- [17.0, 18.0) --- --- 10 --- 5 --- 1 --- [18.0, 19.0) --- --- 11 --- 10 --- 4 --- [19.0, 20.0) --- --- 2 --- 4 --- 1 --- [20.0, 21.0) --- --- 2 3 11 --- --- --- [21.0, 22.0) --- --- 1 --- 11 --- 2 --- [22.0, 23.0) --- --- --- --- 4 --- --- --- [23.0, 24.0) --- --- --- --- 3 --- --- --- [24.0, 25.0) 1 --- --- --- 7 --- 1 --- [25.0, 26.0) --- --- --- --- 4 --- --- --- [26.0, 27.0) --- --- --- --- 4 --- --- --- [27.0, 28.0) --- --- --- 1 3 --- --- --- [28.0, 29.0) --- --- --- 1 6 --- --- --- [29.0, 30.0) --- --- --- 2 1 --- --- --- [30.0, 31.0) --- --- --- 1 4 --- --- --- [31.0, 32.0) --- --- --- 3 1 --- --- --- [32.0, 33.0) --- --- --- 1 1 --- --- --- [33.0, 34.0) --- --- --- 1 1 --- --- --- [34.0, 35.0) --- --- --- 3 3 --- --- --- [35.0, 36.0) --- --- --- 7 1 --- --- --- [36.0, 37.0) --- --- --- 4 --- --- --- --- [37.0, 38.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- [38.0, 39.0) --- --- --- 6 --- --- --- --- [39.0, 40.0) --- --- --- 6 --- --- --- --- [40.0, and up) --- --- --- 15 --- --- --- --- Total 1 171 148 55 106 83 40 2 Min. Length 24.00 6.75 4.00 12.00 12.00 5.50 8.00 6.75 Max. Length 24.00 11.25 21.00 47.00 35.00 8.00 24.50 7.25

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Table 103. Length-frequency distributions of harvested fish, Lake Sarah, open-water season 2003. (CRP=crappie, LMB=largemouth bass, NOP= northern pike, SUN=sunfish) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Length Category CRP LMB NOP SUN [0.0, 4.0) --- --- --- --- [4.0, 4.5) --- --- --- --- [4.5, 5.0) --- --- --- --- [5.0, 5.5) --- --- --- --- [5.5, 6.0) --- --- --- --- [6.0, 6.5) --- --- --- 11 [6.5, 7.0) --- --- --- 56 [7.0, 7.5) 2 --- --- 147 [7.5, 8.0) 12 --- --- 98 [8.0, 8.5) 25 --- --- 6 [8.5, 9.0) 28 --- --- 2 [9.0, 9.5) 18 2 --- --- [9.5, 10.0) 14 1 --- --- [10.0, 10.5) 8 1 --- --- [10.5, 11.0) 6 2 --- --- [11.0, 11.5) --- 3 --- --- [11.5, 12.0) 2 3 --- --- [12.0, 13.0) 2 14 --- --- [13.0, 14.0) 2 8 --- --- [14.0, 15.0) 1 14 --- --- [15.0, 16.0) --- 5 --- --- [16.0, 17.0) --- 10 --- --- [17.0, 18.0) --- 9 --- --- [18.0, 19.0) --- 5 1 --- [19.0, 20.0) --- 1 --- --- [20.0, 21.0) --- 1 1 --- [21.0, 22.0) --- 1 1 --- [22.0, 23.0) --- --- --- --- [23.0, 24.0) --- --- 1 --- [24.0, 25.0) --- --- 1 --- [25.0, 26.0) --- --- --- --- [26.0, 27.0) --- --- 2 --- [27.0, 28.0) --- --- 1 --- [28.0, 29.0) --- --- 1 --- [29.0, 30.0) --- --- 2 --- [30.0, 31.0) --- --- --- --- [31.0, 32.0) --- --- --- --- [32.0, 33.0) --- --- 1 --- [33.0, 34.0) --- --- --- --- [34.0, 35.0) --- --- 1 --- [35.0, 36.0) --- --- --- --- [36.0, 37.0) --- --- --- --- [37.0, 38.0) --- --- --- --- [38.0, 39.0) --- --- --- --- [39.0, 40.0) --- --- --- --- [40.0, and up) --- --- --- --- Total 120 80 13 320 Min. Length 7.00 9.00 18.00 6.00 Max. Length 14.50 21.50 34.50 8.50 Mean Length 9.00 14.46 26.12 7.17

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Table 104. Length-frequency distributions of released fish, Lake Sarah, open-water season 2003. (BOF=bowfin, CRP=crappie, LMB=largemouth bass, MUE=muskellunge, NOP=northern pike, WAE=walleye) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Length Category BOF LMB NOP WAE [0.0, 4.0) --- --- --- --- [4.0, 4.5) --- --- --- --- [4.5, 5.0) --- --- --- --- [5.0, 5.5) --- --- --- --- [5.5, 6.0) --- --- --- --- [6.0, 6.5) --- 2 --- --- [6.5, 7.0) --- --- --- --- [7.0, 7.5) --- --- --- --- [7.5, 8.0) --- --- --- --- [8.0, 8.5) --- 10 --- --- [8.5, 9.0) --- --- --- --- [9.0, 9.5) --- 2 --- --- [9.5, 10.0) --- --- --- --- [10.0, 10.5) --- 20 --- 1 [10.5, 11.0) --- --- --- --- [11.0, 11.5) --- 3 --- --- [11.5, 12.0) --- 12 --- --- [12.0, 13.0) --- 102 --- --- [13.0, 14.0) --- 34 --- --- [14.0, 15.0) --- 45 --- --- [15.0, 16.0) --- 78 2 --- [16.0, 17.0) --- 46 --- --- [17.0, 18.0) --- 29 1 --- [18.0, 19.0) --- 37 4 --- [19.0, 20.0) --- 4 1 --- [20.0, 21.0) --- 2 1 --- [21.0, 22.0) --- --- --- --- [22.0, 23.0) --- --- 1 --- [23.0, 24.0) --- --- 3 --- [24.0, 25.0) --- --- 3 --- [25.0, 26.0) --- --- 4 --- [26.0, 27.0) 1 --- 2 --- [27.0, 28.0) --- --- 2 --- [28.0, 29.0) --- --- 1 --- [29.0, 30.0) --- --- 2 --- [30.0, 31.0) --- --- 2 --- [31.0, 32.0) --- --- --- --- [32.0, 33.0) --- --- --- --- [33.0, 34.0) --- --- --- --- [34.0, 35.0) --- --- --- --- [35.0, 36.0) --- --- --- --- [36.0, 37.0) --- --- 2 --- [37.0, 38.0) --- --- --- --- [38.0, 39.0) --- --- --- --- [39.0, 40.0) --- --- --- --- [40.0, and up) --- --- --- --- Total 1 426 31 1 Min. Length 26.80 6.00 15.00 10.00 Max. Length 26.80 20.00 36.50 10.00 Mean Length 26.80 14.10 24.15 10.00

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Table 105. Length-frequency distributions of harvested and released fish, Lake Sarah, open-water season 2003. (BOF=bowfin, CRP=crappie, LMB=largemouth bass, NOP=northern pike, SUN=sunfish, WAE= walleye) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Length Category BOF CRP LMB NOP SUN WAE [0.0, 4.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- [4.0, 4.5) --- --- --- --- --- --- [4.5, 5.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- [5.0, 5.5) --- --- --- --- --- --- [5.5, 6.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- [6.0, 6.5) --- --- 2 --- 11 --- [6.5, 7.0) --- --- --- --- 56 --- [7.0, 7.5) --- 2 --- --- 147 --- [7.5, 8.0) --- 12 --- --- 98 --- [8.0, 8.5) --- 25 10 --- 6 --- [8.5, 9.0) --- 28 --- --- 2 --- [9.0, 9.5) --- 18 4 --- --- --- [9.5, 10.0) --- 14 1 --- --- --- [10.0, 10.5) --- 8 21 --- --- 1 [10.5, 11.0) --- 6 2 --- --- --- [11.0, 11.5) --- --- 6 --- --- --- [11.5, 12.0) --- 2 15 --- --- --- [12.0, 13.0) --- 2 116 --- --- --- [13.0, 14.0) --- 2 42 --- --- --- [14.0, 15.0) --- 1 59 --- --- --- [15.0, 16.0) --- --- 83 2 --- --- [16.0, 17.0) --- --- 56 --- --- --- [17.0, 18.0) --- --- 38 1 --- --- [18.0, 19.0) --- --- 42 5 --- --- [19.0, 20.0) --- --- 5 1 --- --- [20.0, 21.0) --- --- 3 2 --- --- [21.0, 22.0) --- --- 1 1 --- --- [22.0, 23.0) --- --- --- 1 --- --- [23.0, 24.0) --- --- --- 4 --- --- [24.0, 25.0) --- --- --- 4 --- --- [25.0, 26.0) --- --- --- 4 --- --- [26.0, 27.0) 1 --- --- 4 --- --- [27.0, 28.0) --- --- --- 3 --- --- [28.0, 29.0) --- --- --- 2 --- --- [29.0, 30.0) --- --- --- 4 --- --- [30.0, 31.0) --- --- --- 2 --- --- [31.0, 32.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- [32.0, 33.0) --- --- --- 1 --- --- [33.0, 34.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- [34.0, 35.0) --- --- --- 1 --- --- [35.0, 36.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- [36.0, 37.0) --- --- --- 2 --- --- [37.0, 38.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- [38.0, 39.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- [39.0, 40.0) --- --- --- --- --- --- [40.0, and up) --- --- --- --- --- --- Total 1 120 506 44 320 1 Min. Length 26.80 7.00 6.00 15.00 6.00 10.00 Max. Length 26.80 14.50 21.50 36.50 8.50 10.00 Mean Length 26.80 9.00 14.16 24.73 7.17 10.00

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Table 106. Percent of angler parties seeking specific fish species or types*, 3 Hennepin County, Minnesota lakes, open-water season 2003. Species/Type Medicine Independence Sarah Fish Sought % % % Largemouth bass 25 10 34 No Preference/”Anything” 20 17 14 Crappie 18 13 19 Bluegill/Sunfish 18 8 24 Muskellunge -0- 31 -0- Northern Pike 18 7 8 Walleye -0- 13 -0- Yellow Perch 1 <1 1 (Total # of interviews) (397) (567) (348) * Responses for multi-fish preferences were split equally among species/type stated, then added to respective single-species totals; e.g. a party's response of seeking "northerns and walleyes" was entered as 0.5 each for northern pike and walleye. The “panfish” preference was separated as 0.4 each for bluegill/sunfish and crappie and 0.2 for yellow perch.

Table 107. Percentages of each gender fishing 3 Hennepin County, Minnesota lakes, open-water season 2003. Medicine Independence Sarah Gender % % % Male 84 86 72 Female 16 14 18 (# anglers) (848) (1,228) (752) Table 108. Age distributions of anglers fishing 3 Hennepin County, Minnesota lakes, open-water season 2003. AGE GROUP under 65 & 16 16-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 older Total Medicine % 17 8 16 24 19 7 9 100 # surveyed 144 68 134 203 153 55 74 837 Independence % 17 11 17 28 17 6 4 100 # surveyed 202 131 208 340 208 69 57 1,215 Sarah % 16 7 11 30 18 6 12 100 # surveyed 121 51 82 222 130 46 88 740

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Table 109. Percentages of anglers traveling different distances to fish 3 Hennepin County, Minnesota lakes, open-water season 2003. Distance Traveled to Lake (Miles) Lake <10 10-25 26-50 51-75 76-150 151+ # Respondents

Medicine 79 17 1 <1 -0- 3 846 Independence 19 66 11 1 1 2 1,220 Sarah 32 57 8 <1 1 1 752 The 5 most frequent cities of residence (derived from ZIP codes): Medicine: Independence: Plymouth 18% /156 responses Minneapolis 10% /117 responses Minneapolis 13% /107 responses Plymouth 8% / 96 responses Brooklyn Park 10% / 87 responses Delano 8% / 96 responses Crystal 9% / 78 responses Plymouth 7% / 85 responses Golden Valley 8% / 64 responses Brooklyn Center 3% / 33 responses Sarah: Delano 9% / 67 responses Maple Grove 7% / 53 responses Brooklyn Park 5% / 40 responses Greenfield 5% / 34 responses Rockford 5% / 34 responses Table 110. Percent of angler parties using various electronic location devices while fishing, 3 Hennepin County, Minnesota lakes, open-water season 2003. Medicine Independence Sarah Electronic Device % % % No Info Given or Recorded / Not Applic. 72 48 61 Depthfinder / Flasher 28 52 39 GPS -0- -0- -0- Underwater Video Camera -0- -0- -0- Multiple Devices (Camera + Flasher) -0- -0- -0- Number Parties Surveyed 397 567 348

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Table 111. Mean ratings, on a 10-point scale, of the day’s fishing quality, as rated by participating angler parties, Medicine Lake, open- water season 2003. N = number of angler parties responding. Sums of species values exceeded total number of interviews because of multiple responses. SE = 1 standard error. Angler Group Mean Rating SE N All Respondents 4.9 0.18 187 Parties Seeking Sunfish 4.8 0.63 63 " " Crappie 4.8 0.35 59 " " Largemouth bass 4.8 0.31 60 " " Northern pike 4.8 0.32 52 From responses to the questions “On a 1 to 10 scale, with 1 being poor and 10 being excellent, how would you rate your fishing today, based on size and number of fish caught?” Table 112. Frequencies of response ratings for fishing trip quality, participating angler parties, Medicine Lake, open-water season 2003. Value sums can exceed total number of interviews because ratings were applied to all fish species/types sought. <- lowest Rating-- Lake Fishing Quality highest ->

Angler Type 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Total All Respondents 23 13 25 26 22 21 27 14 10 6 187 Those Seeking SUN 10 4 8 5 8 6 11 5 5 1 63 " " CRP 9 4 9 6 5 6 9 5 5 1 59 " " LMB 7 5 4 12 10 6 7 6 1 2 60 " " NOP 6 4 9 9 4 3 7 6 2 2 52 # From responses to the questions “On a 1 to 10 scale, with 1 being poor and 10 excellent, how would you rate your fishing today, based on size and number of fish caught?” SUN = sunfish CRP = crappie LMB = largemouth bass NOP = northern pike

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Table 113. Mean ratings, on a 10-point scale, of the day’s fishing quality, as rated by participating angler parties, Lake Independence, open-water season 2003. N = number of angler parties responding. Sums of species values exceeded total number of interviews because of multiple responses. SE = 1 standard error. Angler Group Mean Rating SE N All Respondents 4.6 0.18 224 Parties Seeking Sunfish 5.8 0.38 44 " " Crappie 5.8 0.34 53 " " Northern pike 4.8 0.53 21 " " Muskellunge 4.6 0.37 64 " " Largemouth bass 4.3 0.38 41 From responses to the questions “On a 1 to 10 scale, with 1 being poor and 10 being excellent, how would you rate your fishing today, based on size and number of fish caught?” Table 114. Frequencies of response ratings for fishing trip quality, participating angler parties, Lake Independence, open-water season 2003. Value sums can exceed total number of interviews because ratings were applied to all fish species/types sought. <- lowest Rating-- Lake Fishing Quality highest -> Angler Type 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Total All Respondents 46 25 16 18 30 21 30 25 6 7 224 Those Seeking SUN 3 3 -0- 6 10 3 6 8 1 4 44 " " CRP 4 4 -0- 8 7 7 7 11 1 4 53 " " NOP 3 2 2 2 2 2 6 2 -0- -0- 21 " " MUE 17 6 5 2 4 7 10 7 4 2 64 " " LMB 6 7 5 2 8 5 4 2 1 1 41 # From responses to the questions “On a 1 to 10 scale, with 1 being poor and 10 excellent, how would you rate your fishing today, based on size and number of fish caught?” SUN=sunfish CRP=crappie MUE=muskellunge NOP=northern pike LMB=largemouth bass

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Table 115. Mean ratings, on a 10-point scale, of the day’s fishing quality, as rated by participating angler parties, Lake Sarah, open- water season 2003. N = number of angler parties responding. Sums of species values exceeded total number of interviews because of multiple responses. SE = 1 standard error. Angler Group Mean Rating SE N All Respondents 5.7 0.17 193 Parties Seeking Sunfish 6.8 0.22 74 " " Crappie 6.3 0.27 70 " " Largemouth bass 5.6 0.26 87 " " Northern pike 5.1 0.53 22 From responses to the questions “On a 1 to 10 scale, with 1 being poor and 10 being excellent, how would you rate your fishing today, based on size and number of fish caught?” Table 116. Frequencies of response ratings for fishing trip quality, participating angler parties, Lake Sarah, open-water season 2003. Value sums can exceed total number of interviews because ratings were applied to all fish species/types sought. <- lowest Rating-- Lake Fishing Quality highest ->

Angler Type 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Total All Respondents 11 9 19 20 28 27 31 24 9 15 193 Those Seeking SUN 1 -0- 1 8 8 11 16 16 5 8 74 " " CRP 1 1 7 8 10 8 12 11 5 7 70 " " LMB 5 3 9 10 18 14 10 7 3 8 87 " " NOP 2 1 3 3 2 3 2 5 -0- 1 22 # From responses to the questions “On a 1 to 10 scale, with 1 being poor and 10 excellent, how would you rate your fishing today, based on size and number of fish caught?” SUN = sunfish CRP = crappie LMB = largemouth bass NOP = northern pike

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Minnesota F-29-R(P)-23 Area F314 March 2003 MINNESOTA ...Minnesota lakes, combined winter 2002-03...

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Transcript of Minnesota F-29-R(P)-23 Area F314 March 2003 MINNESOTA ...Minnesota lakes, combined winter 2002-03...